IELTS® Academic Reading Practice 42

The answer is iii. Section A fits with heading iii (An accepted answer to a question about the moai) because it details how, initially, theories differed about who built the moai (including claims they were made by aliens or Peruvians), but modern evidence from linguistics, archaeology, and genealogy now shows it was the Polynesians. The relevant part is, "Today, evidence gained from the fields of linguistics, archaeology and genealogy has effectively shown that Polynesians were the ones who built the moai, but how they moved the statues was still a mystery."

Associated Text:
Today, evidence gained from the fields of linguistics, archaeology and genealogy has effectively shown that Polynesians were the ones who built the moai, but how they moved the statues was still a mystery.

The answer is vi. Section B is best matched with heading vi (A historical description of the barren island that was once lush) because it describes how Easter Island became barren over time, supported by research demonstrating it was once covered by lush palm forests, and then details how these were destroyed. It states, "proof was discovered that the island had once been a land of lush palm forests for thousands of years," and continues with how the forests disappeared.

Associated Text:
proof was discovered that the island had once been a land of lush palm forests for thousands of years, when researchers uncovered pollen left over in lake sediments. The Polynesians’ arrival on the islands marked the time of these forests’ disappearance.

The answer is vii. Section C is best summed up by heading vii (How the statues may have worsened conditions on the island) as it discusses how constructing and transporting the moai (statues) led to more trees being cut down, requiring more land to be cleared, and thus accelerating the island’s ecological destruction. The text says, "Diamond believes that the creation of the moai only sped up their societies self-inflicted destruction."

Associated Text:
Diamond believes that the creation of the moai only sped up their societies self-inflicted destruction.

The answer is i. Section D matches heading i (Creative ways to farm in the harsh environment) because it discusses the islanders’ agricultural adaptations such as constructing windbreaks out of stone and using volcanic rock chips to moisten soil as a way of protecting and sustaining their crops. The passage states, “Archaeological excavations show that the Rapanui undertook extraordinary protection measures to maintain the resources of their windy, barren soil. They constructed windbreaks out of stone in the thousands, and cultivated the soil behind those walls, using chips of volcanic rock to moisten it.”

Associated Text:
Archaeological excavations show that the Rapanui undertook extraordinary protection measures to maintain the resources of their windy, barren soil. They constructed windbreaks out of stone in the thousands, and cultivated the soil behind those walls, using chips of volcanic rock to moisten it.

The answer is v. Section E best fits heading v (A theory which supports a local belief) because Hunt and Lipo's theory aligns with the local stories that the moai 'walked.' They argue that the statues could be moved upright and with few people, in line with the traditions and folklore of the islanders. The passage notes, “Hunt and Lipo argue that archaeological evidence found in Rapanui folk stories supports their claim.”

Associated Text:
Hunt and Lipo contend that moai-building was a peaceful, relationship building activity between the islanders. In their minds, a few strong people moved the moai with no wood, because they were moved upright. Hunt and Lipo argue that archaeological evidence found in Rapanui folk stories supports their claim. As few as 18 people could move a similar statue to the moai with three strong ropes and some experience.

The answer is ii. Section F is best described by heading ii (Other factors besides the people may have destroyed the forest) as it presents evidence that rats, not just humans, played a crucial role in the disappearance of the island’s palm forests. It explains, “Archaeologists have discovered that nuts from the extinct Easter Island palm show tiny cuts from teeth marks of Polynesian rats... Even without taking the settlers’ actions of cutting down trees into account, reseeding of the slow-growing palm trees would have been prevented by the spread of the rat population.”

Associated Text:
Archaeologists have discovered that nuts from the extinct Easter Island palm show tiny cuts from teeth marks of Polynesian rats. Hunt and Lipo estimate that the rats would have taken over the island in just a few short years after they arrived along with settlers. Even without taking the settlers’ actions of cutting down trees into account, reseeding of the slow-growing palm trees would have been prevented by the spread of the rat population, a death-sentence for Rapa Nui's forest.

The answer is iv. Section G matches heading iv (What can we learn from the story of Easter Island?) because it concludes with the idea that the rest of the world can learn from Rapu Nui’s history. It states, “Either way, it seems that the rest of the world could stand to learn a lesson from the story of Rapu Nui and Easter Island.”

Associated Text:
Either way, it seems that the rest of the world could stand to learn a lesson from the story of Rapu Nui and Easter Island.