Giải đề Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 3, Reading Passage 1: Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers

Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers

In early April 2019, Dr Ceri Shipton and his colleagues from Australian National University became the first archaeologists to explore Obi, one of many tropical islands in Indonesia’s Maluku Utara province (Q1). The research team’s discoveries suggest that the prehistoric people who lived on Obi were adept on both land and sea, hunting in the dense rainforest, foraging on the seashore, and possibly even voyaging between islands.

The excavations were part of a project to learn more about how people first dispersed from mainland Asia, through the Indonesian archipelago and into the prehistoric continent that once connected Australia and New Guinea. The team’s earlier research suggested that the northernmost islands in the group, known as the Wallacean islands, including Obi, would have offered the easiest migration route. It also seemed likely that these islands were crucial ‘stepping stones’ on humans’ island-hopping voyages through this region millennia ago. But to support this idea, they needed archaeological evidence for humans living in this remote area in the ancient past. So, they travelled to Obi to look for sites that might reveal evidence of early occupation.

Just inland from the village of Kelo on Obi’s northern coast, Shipton and his colleagues found two caves containing prehistoric rock shelters that were suitable for excavation (Q8). With the permission and help of the local people of Kelo, they dug a small test excavation in each shelter. There they found nurnerous ariefacts, including fragments of axes, some dating to about 14,000 years ago. The earliest axes at Kelo were made using clam shells. Axes made from clam shells from roughly the same time had also previously been found elsewhere in this region, including on the nearby island of Gebe to the northeast (Q2). As on Gebe, it is highly likely that Obi’s axes were used in the construction of canoes, thus allowing these early peoples to maintain connections between communities on neighbouring islands.

The oldest cultural layers from the Kelo site provided the team with the earliest record for human occupation on Obi, dating back around 18,000 years. At this time the climate was drier and colder than today, and the island’s dense rainforests would likely have been much less impenetrable than they are now. Sea levels were about 120 metres lower, meaning Obi was a much larger island (Q3), encompassing what is today the separate island of Bisa, as well as several other small islands nearby.

Roughly 11,700 years ago, as the most recent ice age ended, the climate became significantly warmer and wetter, no doubt making Obi’s jungle much thicker (Q4). According to the researchers, it is no coincidence that around this time the first axes crafted from stone (Q9)  rather than sea shells appear, likely in response to their heavy-duty use for clearing and modification of the increasingly dense rainforest (Q5). While stone takes about twice as long to grind into an axe compared to shell, the harder material keeps its sharp edge for longer.

Judging by the bones (Q10) which the researchers unearthed in the Kelo caves, people living there mainly hunted the Rothschild’s cuscus, a possum-like creature that still lives on Obi today (Q6). As the forest grew more dense, people probably used axes to clear patches of forest and make hunting easier.

Shipton’s team’s excavation of the shelters at the Kelo site unearthed a volcanic glass substance called obsidian, which must have been brought over from another island, as there is no known source on Obi. It also revealed particular types of beads(Q11), similar to those previously found on islands in southern Wallacea. These finds again support the idea that Obi islanders routinely travelled to other islands.

The excavations suggest people successfully lived in the two Kelo shelters for about 10,000 years. But then, about 8,000 years ago, both were abandoned. Did the residents leave Obi completely, or move elsewhere on the island? Perhaps the jungle had grown so thick that axes were no longer a match for the dense undergrowth. Perhaps people simply moved to the coast and turned to fishing rather than hunting as a means of survival.

Whatever the reason for the departure, there is no evidence for use of the Kelo shelters after this time, until about 1,000 years ago, when they were re-occupied by people who owned pottery (Q12) as well as items made out of gold and silver (Q7). It seems likely, in view of Obi’s location, that this final phase of occupation also saw the Keio shelters used by people involved in the historic trade in spices (Q13) between the Maluku islands and the rest of the world.

GIẢI THÍCH CHI TIẾT ĐỀ Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers

Questions 1-7

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE                    if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

FALSE                  if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

NOT GIVEN          if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

1. FALSE Archaeological research had taken place on the island of Obi before the arrival of Ceri Shipton and his colleagues.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: In early April 2019, Dr Ceri Shipton and his colleagues from Australian National University became the first archaeologists to explore Obi, one of many tropical islands in Indonesia’s Maluku Utara province.

Giải thích: Câu hỏi nói rằng trước khi Tiến sĩ Ceri Shipton tới đảo Obi thì đã từng có nghiên cứu khảo cổ học được thực hiện ở trên đảo rồi. Tuy nhiên, trong bài đọc, đoàn nghiên cứu của tiến sĩ Ceri Shipton là đoàn đầu tiên được khám phá đảo Obi. Vậy đáp án là FALSE.

2. FALSE At the Kelo sites, the researchers found the first clam shell axes ever to be discovered in the region.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: The earliest axes at Kelo were made using clam shells. Axes made from clam shells from roughly the same time had also previously been found elsewhere in this region, including on the nearby island of Gebe to the northeast.

Giải thích: Câu hỏi nói rằng, ở địa điểm khảo cổ Kelo, các nhà nghiên cứu đã tìm thấy những chiếc rìu được làm từ vỏ sò đầu tiên trong khu vực. Tuy nhiên, trong bài đọc chỉ ra rằng rìu kiểu này đã từng được tìm thấy ở các hòn đảo khác trong khu vực như Gebe ở hướng Tây Bắc. Vậy đáp án là FALSE.

3. TRUE The size of Obi today is less than it was years ago. 

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Sea levels were about 120 metres lower, meaning Obi was a much larger island.

Giải thích: Câu hỏi nói rằng kích cỡ của hòn đảo Tobi ngày nay nhỏ hơn xưa. Thực vậy, trong bài đọc nói mức nước biển khi xưa thấp hơn 120 mét so với ngày nay, có nghĩa là Đảo Tobi đã từng to hơn rất nhiều trong quá khứ. Vậy đáp án là TRUE.

4. NOT GIVEN A change in the climate around 11,700 years ago had a greater impact on Obi than on the surrounding islands.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Roughly 11,700 years ago, as the most recent ice age ended, the climate became significantly warmer and wetter, no doubt making Obi’s jungle much thicker.

Giải thích: Trong bài đọc không có thông tin xuất hiện việc so sánh giữa tác động của thay đổi khí hậu trên đảo Tobi với các hòn đảo xung quanh. Vậy đáp án là NOT GIVEN.

5. TRUE The researchers believe there is a connection between warmer, wetter weather and a change in the material used to make axes.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: According to the researchers, it is no coincidence that around this time the first axes crafted from stone rather than sea shells appear, likely in response to their heavy-duty use for clearing and modification of the increasingly dense rainforest.

Giải thích: Câu hỏi cho rằng có 1 mối liên quan giữa khí hậu ấm & ẩm với sự thay đổi về loại vật liệu dùng để làm rìu. Thật vậy, trong bài đọc chỉ ra rằng những chiếc rìu đá đầu tiên được làm ra dường như là để cho mục đích khai phá rừng rậm. Vậy đáp án là TRUE.

6. NOT GIVEN Shipton’s team were surprised to find evidence of the Obi islanders’ hunting practices.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Judging by the bones which the researchers unearthed in the Kelo caves, people living there mainly hunted the Rothschild’s cuscus, a possum-like creature that still lives on Obi today

Giải thích: Không có thông tin liên quan đến cảm xúc ngạc nhiên của nhóm Shipton khi tìm ra bằng chứng về tập tục săn bắn của người đảo Obi Vậy đáp án là NOT GIVEN.

7. FALSE It is thought that the Keio shelters were occupied continuously until about 1,000 years ago.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: But then, about 8,000 years ago, both were abandoned… Whatever the reason for the departure, there is no evidence for use of the Kelo shelters after this time, until about 1,000 years ago, when they were re-occupied by people who owned pottery as well as items made out of gold and silver.

Giải thích: Câu hỏi cho rằng những chỗ trú Keio có người ở liên tục mãi đến 1000 năm trước đây. Tuy nhiên, trong bài đọc chỉ ra rằng 8000 năm trước tất cả mọi người rời khỏi khu trú ẩn Keio, mãi cho đến 1000 năm trước thì mới có bằng chứng có người ở. Như vậy, chỗ trú Keio không phải lúc nào cũng có người ở mãi đến 1000 năm trước. Vậy đáp án là FALSE.

Questions 8-13

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.

Archaeological findings on Obi

Excavations of rock shelters inside 8.____caves_____ near the village of Kelo revealed:

• Axes from around 14,000 years ago, probably used to make canoes
• Axes made out of 9._____stone____  dating from around 11,700 years ago
• 10.___bones______ of an animal: evidence of what ancient islanders ate
• Evidence of travel between islands:
  • Obsidian: a material that is not found naturally on Obi
  • 11___beads______  which resembled ones found on other islands.

It is thought that from 8,000 years ago, Obi islanders:

• may have switched from hunting to fishing
• had 12 ____pottery_____ as well as items made out of metal
• probably took part in the production and sale of 13 ___spices______

Q8:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Excavations of rock shelters inside 8.____caves_____ near the village of Kelo revealed

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Just inland from the village of Kelo on Obi’s northern coast, Shipton and his colleagues found two caves containing prehistoric rock shelters that were suitable for excavation.

Giải thích: Những cuộc khảo cổ khu trú ẩn đá trong những hang động gần một ngôi làng trên đảo Obi. Vậy đáp án là caves.

Q9:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Axes made out of 9._____stone____  dating from around 11,700 years ago

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Roughly 11,700 years ago, as the most recent ice age ended, the climate became significantly warmer and wetter, no doubt making Obi’s jungle much thicker. According to the researchers, it is no coincidence that around this time the first axes crafted from stone rather than sea shells appear, likely in response to their heavy-duty use for clearing and modification of the increasingly dense rainforest.

Giải thích: Rìu được làm từ đá có tuổi đời khoảng 11700 năm trước. Vậy đáp án là STONE.

Q10:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: 10.___bones______ of an animal: evidence of what ancient islanders ate

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Judging by the bones which the researchers unearthed in the Kelo caves, people living there mainly hunted the Rothschild’s cuscus, a possum-like creature that still lives on Obi today.

Giải thích: Xương của động vật là bằng chứng về đồ ăn của những tổ tiên trên đảo. Vậy đáp án là BONES.

Q11:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: 11___beads______  which resembled ones found on other islands.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: It also revealed particular types of beads, similar to those previously found on islands in southern Wallacea.

Giải thích: Những hạt cườm mà trông giống với những hạt cườm tương tự được tìm thấy trên các hòn đảo khác. Vậy đáp án là BEADS.

Q12:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: had 12 ____pottery_____ as well as items made out of metal

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Whatever the reason for the departure, there is no evidence for use of the Kelo shelters after this time, until about 1,000 years ago, when they were re-occupied by people who owned pottery as well as items made out of gold and silver.

Giải thích: Có đồ gốm cũng như đồ làm bằng kim loại. Vậy đáp án là POTTERY.

Q13:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Obi islanders… probably took part in the production and sale of 13 ___spices______

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: It seems likely, in view of Obi’s location, that this final phase of occupation also saw the Keio shelters used by people involved in the historic trade in spices between the Maluku islands and the rest of the world.

Giải thích: Người đảo Obi có thể đã tham gia vào quá trình sản xuất và buôn bán gia vị. Vậy đáp án là SPICES.

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