ĐÁP ÁN VÀ GIẢI CHI TIẾT CAMBRIDGE IELTS 18 – TEST 2 – PASSAGE 1 – STONEHENGE

Cùng IELTSITY tìm hiểu cách giải chi tiết phần STONEHENGE này nhé!

ANSWER TABLE

1. (deer) antlers 8. calendar
2. (timber) posts 9. TRUE
3. tree trunks 10. FALSE
4. oxen 11. FALSE
5. glaciers 12. TRUE
6. druids 13. NOT GIVEN
7. burial
Stonehenge

 

For centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the many mysteries of Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument that took an estimated 1,500 years to erect. Located on Salisbury Plain in southern England, it is comprised of roughly 100 massive upright stones placed in a circular layout.

Archaeologists believe England’s most iconic prehistoric ruin was built in several stages with the earliest constructed 5,000 or more years ago. First, Neolithic* Britons used primitive tools, which may have been fashioned out of deer antlers (Q1), to dig a massive circular ditch and bank, or henge. Deep pits dating back to that era and located within the circle may have once held a ring of timber posts (Q2), according to some scholars. Several hundred years later, it is thought, Stonehenge’s builders hoisted an estimated 80 bluestones, 43 of which remain today, into standing positions and placed them in either a horseshoe or circular formation. These stones have been traced all the way to the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 300 kilometres from Stonehenge. How, then, did prehistoric builders without sophisticated tools or engineering haul these boulders, which weigh up to four tons, over such a great distance?

According to one long-standing theory among archaeologists, Stonehenge’s builders fashioned sledges and rollers out of tree trunks (Q3) to lug the bluestones from the Preseli Hills. They then transferred the boulders onto rafts and floated them first along the Welsh coast and then up the River Avon toward Salisbury Plain; alternatively, they may have towed each stone with a fleet of vessels. More recent archaeological hypotheses have them transporting the bluestones with supersized wicker baskets on a combination of ball bearings and long grooved planks, hauled by oxen (Q4).

As early as the 1970s, geologists have been adding their voices to the debate over how Stonehenge came into being. Challenging the classic image of industrious builders pushing, carting, rolling or hauling giant stones from faraway Wales, some scientists have suggested that it was glaciers (Q5), not humans, that carried the bluestones to Salisbury Plain. Most archaeologists have remained sceptical about this theory, however, wondering how the forces of nature could possibly have delivered the exact number of stones needed to complete the circle.

The third phase of construction took place around 2000 BCE. At this point, sandstone slabs- known as ‘sarsens’- were arranged into an outer crescent or ring; some were assembled into the iconic three-pieced structures called trilithons that stand tall in the centre of Stonehenge. (Q9) Some 50 of these stones are now visible on the site, which may once have contained many more. Radiocarbon dating has revealed that work continued at Stonehenge until roughly 1600 BCE, with the bluestones in particular being repositioned multiple times. (Q10)

But who were the builders of Stonehenge? In the 17th century, archaeologist John Aubrey  made the claim that Stonehenge was the work of druids (Q6), who had important religious, judicial and political roles in Celtic** society. (Q11) This theory was widely popularized by the antiquarian William Stukeley, who had unearthed primitive graves at the site. Even today, people who identify as modern druids continue to gather at Stonehenge for the summer solstice. However, in the mid-20th century, radiocarbon dating demonstrated that Stonehenge stood more than 1,000 years before the Celts inhabited the region. (Q11)

Many modern historians and archaeologists now agree that several distinct tribes of people contributed to Stonehenge, each undertaking a different phase of its construction. Bones, tools and other artefacts found on the site seem to support this hypothesis. (Q12) The first stage was achieved by Neolithic agrarians who were likely to have been indigenous to the British Isles. Later, it is believed, groups with advanced tools and a more communal way of life left their mark on the site. Some believe that they were immigrants from the European continent, while others maintain that they were probably native Britons, descended from the original builders.

If the facts surrounding the architects and construction of Stonehenge remain shadowy at best, the purpose of the striking monument is even more of a mystery. While there is consensus among the majority of modern scholars that Stonehenge once served the function of burial (Q7) ground, they have yet to determine what other purposes it had. 

In the 1960s, the astronomer Gerald Hawkins suggested that the cluster of megalithic stones operated as a form of calendar (Q8), with different points corresponding to astrological phenomena such as solstices, equinoxes and eclipses occurring at different times of the year. While his theory has received a considerable amount of attention over the decades, critics maintain that Stonehenge’s builders probably lacked the knowledge necessary to predict such events or that England’s dense cloud cover would have obscured their view of the skies. (Q13)

More recently, signs of illness and injury in the human remains unearthed at Stonehenge led a group of British archaeologists to speculate that it was considered a place of healing, perhaps because bluestones were thought to have curative powers. 

Questions 1-8

Complete the notes below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet.

Stonehenge

Construction

Stage 1:

  • the ditch and henge were dug, possibly using tools made from 1 _______________
  • 2 _______________ may have been arranged in deep pits inside the circle

Stage 2:

  • bluestones from the Preseli Hills were placed in standing position
  • theories about the transportation of the bluestones:
  • archaeological:
  • builders used 3 _______________ to make sledges and rollers
  • 4 _______________ pulled them on giant baskets
  • geological:
  • they were brought from Wales by 5 _______________

Stage 3:

  • sandstone slabs were arranged into an outer crescent or ring

Builders

  • a theory arose in the 17th century that its builders were Celtic 6 _______________

Purpose

  • many experts agree it has been used as a 7 _______________ site
  • in the 1960s, it was suggested that it worked as a kind of 8 _______________

Questions 9-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

9 During the third phase of construction, sandstone slabs were placed in both the outer areas and the middle of the Stonehenge site.

10 There is scientific proof that the bluestones stood in the same spot until approximately 1600 BCE.

11 John Aubrey’s claim about Stonehenge was supported by 20th-century findings.

12 Objects discovered at Stonehenge seem to indicate that it was constructed by a number of different groups of people.

13 Criticism of Gerald Hawkins’ theory about Stonehenge has come mainly from other astronomers.

 

EXPLANATIONS

Q1:

Từ khóa câu hỏi: the ditch and henge were dug, possibly using tools made from 1 _______________

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Neolithic* Britons used primitive tools, which may have been fashioned out of deer antlers, to dig a massive circular ditch and bank, or henge.

Giải thích: Người Anh thời Neolithic sử dụng những công cụ thô sơ, mà có lẽ được ưa chuộng do làm từ gạc hươu (deer antlers), để đào những những hố lớn hình tròn hoặc đào bờ bên sông.

Vậy đáp án là (deer) antlers.

 

Q2: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: _______________ may have been arranged in deep pits inside the circle

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Deep pits dating back to that era and located within the circle may have once held a ring of timber posts

Giải thích: Những hố sâu có niên đại từ thời kỳ này và nằm bên trong vòng tròn có thể đã giữ nhiều thanh gỗ (timber posts).

Vậy đáp án là (timber) posts.

 

Q3: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: builders used _______________ to make sledges and rollers

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Stonehenge’s builders fashioned sledges and rollers out of tree trunks to lug the bluestones from the Preseli Hills.

Giải thích: Những người thợ xây yêu thích việc sử dụng xe kéo và các thanh gỗ để lăn làm từ thân cây (tree trunks) để kéo những phiến đá từ những ngọn đồi Preseli.

Vậy đáp án là tree trunks.

 

Q4: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: _______________ pulled them on giant baskets

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: … with supersized wicker baskets on a combination of ball bearings and long grooved planks, hauled by oxen.

Giải thích: Người ta sử dụng các giỏ mây khổng lồ kết hợp với ổ bi và những tấm ván dài có rãnh, được kéo đi bởi con bò (oxen).

Vậy đáp án là oxen.

 

Q5: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: they were brought from Wales by _______________

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: … giant stones from faraway Wales, some scientists have suggested that it was glaciers, not humans, that carried the bluestones to Salisbury Plain.

Giải thích: đối với những đá khổng lồ từ xứ Wales xa xôi, các nhà khoa học cho rằng chính các tảng băng (glaciers) chứ không phải con người đã mang những tảng đá này tới đồng bằng Salisbury.

Vậy đáp án là glaciers.

 

Q6: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: a theory arose in the 17th century that its builders were Celtic _______________

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: In the 17th century, archaeologist John Aubrey made the claim that Stonehenge was the work of druids, who had important religious, judicial and political roles in Celtic** society.

Giải thích: Vào thế kỷ 17, nhà khảo cổ học John Aubrey đã khẳng định rằng Stonehenge là công trình của các thầy tu (druids), những người có vai trò lớn về tín ngưỡng, luật pháp và chính trị trong xã hội Celtic.

Vậy đáp án là druids.

 

Q7: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: many experts agree it has been used as a _______________ site

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: While there is consensus among the majority of modern scholars that Stonehenge once served the function of burial ground

Giải thích: Có sự đồng thuận trong phần lớn học giả hiện đại rằng Stonehenge từng được sử dụng như một khu chôn cất (burial ground).

Vậy đáp án là burial.

 

Q8: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: in the 1960s, it was suggested that it worked as a kind of _______________

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: In the 1960s, the astronomer Gerald Hawkins suggested that the cluster of megalithic stones operated as a form of calendar

Giải thích: Vào những năm 1960, nhà chiêm tinh học Gerald Hawkins cho rằng quần thể đá cẩm thạch đóng vai trò như một dạng lịch (calendar) …

Vậy đáp án là calendar.

 

Q9: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: During the third phase of construction, sandstone slabs were placed in both the outer areas and the middle of the Stonehenge site. 

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: The third phase of construction took place around 2000 BCE. At this point, sandstone slabs– known as ‘sarsens’- were arranged into an outer crescent or ring; some were assembled into the iconic three-pieced structures called trilithons that stand tall in the centre of Stonehenge

Giải thích: Vào giai đoạn thứ ba của quá trình xây dựng (khoảng năm 2000 trước Công Nguyên), những phiến đá được sắp xếp thành hình một vòng tròn ở phía ngoài; một số thì được đặt tập trung thành những cấu trúc hai tảng đá dọc đỡ một tảng đá nằm ngang (trilithons) mà đứng ở chính giữa trung tâm của Stonehenge. Như vậy ta hiểu đá được đặt cả ở ngoài lẫn ở bên trong công trình.

Vậy đáp án là TRUE.

 

Q10: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: There is scientific proof that the bluestones stood in the same spot until approximately 1600 BCE.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Radiocarbon dating has revealed that work continued at Stonehenge until roughly 1600 BCE, with the bluestones in particular being repositioned multiple times.

Giải thích: Phương pháp xác định niên đại bằng carbon đã tiết lộ rằng việc xây dựng ở Stonehenge đã tiếp diễn cho tới khoảng những năm 1600 trước Công Nguyên, với việc một số phiến đá bị thay đổi vị trí nhiều lần. Ta hiểu những phiến đá này không hề đứng yên một chỗ. 

Vậy đáp án là FALSE.

 

Q11: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: John Aubrey’s claim about Stonehenge was supported by 20th-century findings.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: In the 17th century, archaeologist John Aubrey made the claim that Stonehenge was the work of druids, who had important religious, judicial and political roles in Celtic** society […] However, in the mid-20th century, radiocarbon dating demonstrated that Stonehenge stood more than 1,000 years before the Celts inhabited the region.

Giải thích: Vào thế kỷ 17, John Aubrey đã khẳng định rằng công trình này là do những thầy tu Celtic xây dựng. Nhưng vào giữa thế kỷ 20, phương pháp xác định niên đại bằng carbon cho thấy Stonehenge đã tồn tại 1000 năm trước khi người Celtic đến định cư ở vùng này. Rõ ràng là có sự mâu thuẫn trong nhận định của Aubrey và các bằng chứng khoa học.

Vậy đáp án là FALSE.

 

Q12: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Objects discovered at Stonehenge seem to indicate that it was constructed by a number of different groups of people.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: Many modern historians and archaeologists now agree that several distinct tribes of people contributed to Stonehenge, each undertaking a different phase of its construction. Bones, tools and other artefacts found on the site seem to support this hypothesis. 

Giải thích: Rất nhiều sử gia và nhà khảo cổ hiện đại bây giờ đồng ý rằng một số bộ tộc đã góp công trong việc xây dựng Stonehenge, mỗi bộ tộc chịu trách nhiệm một giai đoạn trong quá trình xây dựng. Xương, dụng cụ và các đồ vật khác được tìm thấy tại địa điểm dường như ủng hộ giả thuyết này.

Vậy đáp án là TRUE.

 

Q13: 

Từ khóa câu hỏi: Criticism of Gerald Hawkins’ theory about Stonehenge has come mainly from other astronomers.

Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài: While his theory has received a considerable amount of attention over the decades, critics maintain that Stonehenge’s builders probably lacked the knowledge necessary to predict such events or that England’s dense cloud cover would have obscured their view of the skies.

Giải thích: Những người phản đối giả thuyết của Gerald Hawkins khẳng định những người xây dựng Stonehenge đã thiếu đi kỹ năng cần thiết để dự đoán những sự kiện hoặc những đám mây dày trên bầu trời nước Anh sẽ che đi khung cảnh bầu trời. Không có thông tin gì về việc liệu họ có phải những nhà thiên văn hay không.

Vậy đáp án là NOT GIVEN.

 

Hy vọng rằng bài viết này đã giúp bạn hiểu và làm được bài STONEHENGE (CAMBRIDGE 18 – TEST 2 – PASSAGE 1). Chúc các bạn học tốt!

 

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