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    IELTS staff

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    4 views4 pages

    @mindless Writer

    Uploaded by

    javohirakmalov2
    IELTS staff

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 4

    READING PASSAGE 3

    You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading
    Passage 3 on pages 10 and 11.

    The Diprotodon (a rhinoceros-sized wombat), an example of now extinct


    megafuna
    Megafauna Controversy
    Just how long did humans live side by side with megafauna in Australia?
    Barry Brook, Richard Gillespie and Paul Martin dispute previous claims
    of a lengthy coexistence.

    Over the past 50 millennia, Australia has of the University of Sydney, who excavated the
    witnessed the extinction of many species of large site, claim that it provides unequivocal evidence of
    animals, including rhinoceros-sized wombat and a long overlap of humans and megafauna, and
    goannas the size of crocodiles. Debate about the conclude that aridity leading up to the last Ice Age
    possible cause of these extinctions has continued brought about their eventual demise. In the long-
    for more than 150 years and one of the crucial standing explanation of this site, artefacts such as
    questions raised is how long humans and stone tools and extinct animal remains were
    megafauna coexisted in Australia. We need to deposited over many thousands of years in an
    know the overlap of time to make an informed ephemeral lake a body of water existing for a
    choice between the two main theories regarding relatively short time and remained in place and
    the causes of these extinctions. If humans and undisturbed until the present day.
    megafauna coexisted for a protracted period then
    climate change is the more likely cause. However, There is no disputing the close association
    if the megafauna became extinct shortly after the of bones and stones at Cuddle Springs, as both are
    arrival of humans, then humans are the likely found 1 to 1.7 metres below the modern surface.
    culprits. The dating of these layers is accurate: ages for the
    sediments were obtained through radiocarbon
    The archaeological site at Cuddie Springs dating of charcoal fragments and luminescence
    in eastern Australia appears to be well preserved. dating of sand grains from the same levels
    This dusty claypan holds within its sediments a (revealing when a sample was last exposed to
    rich cache of flaked stone and seed-grinding tools, sunlight). Intriguingly, some of the stone tools
    and side by side with these clear signals of human show surface features indicating their use for
    culture are the bones of a dozen or more species processing plants, and a few even have well-
    of megafauna. Drs Judith Field and Stephen Wroe
    preserved blood and hair residues suggesting they We propose that the archaeologists have
    were used in butchering animals. actually been sampling the debris carried by
    ancient food channels beneath the site, including
    But is the case proposed by Field and charcoal transported from bushfires that
    Wroe clear-cut? We carried out a reanalysis of the intermittently occurred within the catchment.
    scientific data from Cuddie Springs that brings into Flood events more likely explain the accumulation
    question their conclusions. The amount of of megafauna remains, and could have mixed old
    anthropological evidence found at the site is bones with fresh deposits. European graziers also
    remarkable: we estimate there are more than 3 disturbed the site in 1876 by constructing a well to
    tonnes of charcoal and more than 300 tonnes of provide water for their cattle. Given the expense
    stone buried there. Field and Wroe estimate that of well-digging, we speculate that the graziers
    there are approximately 20 million artefacts. This made sure it was protected from the damage
    plethora of tools is hard to reconcile with a site caused by cattle hooves by lining the surface with
    that was only available for occupation when the small stones collected from further afield,
    lake was dry. Furthermore, no cultural features including prehistoric quarries. This idea is
    such as oven pits have been discovered. If the consistent with the thin layer of stones spread
    sediment layers have remained undisturbed since
    over a large area, with Cattle occasionally breaking
    being laid down, as Field and Wroe contend, then through the gravel surface and forcing the stone
    the ages of those sediments should increase with
    and even cattle bones deeper into the
    depth. However, our analysis revealed a number waterlogged soil.
    of inconsistencies.
    The lack of conclusive evidence that
    First, the charcoal samples are all roughly humans and megafauna coexisted for a lengthy
    36,000 years old. Second, sand in the two upper period casts doubt on Fleld and Wroe's assertion
    levels is considerably younger than charcoal from that climate change was responsible for the
    the same levels. Third, Field and Wroe say that the extinction of Australia's megafauna. However, we
    tools and seed-grinding stones used for plant and do not suggest that newly arrived, well-armed
    animal processing are ancient, yet they are very hunters systematically slaughtered all the large
    similar to implements found elsewhere that were beasts they encountered. Recent studies based on
    in use only a few thousand years ago. Also of the biology of modern-day large mammals,
    interest is the fact that a deep drill core made a combined with observations of people who still
    mere 60 metres from the site recovered no stone practise a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle,
    artefacts or fossil bones whatoever. These points reveal an unexpected paradox and suggest a
    suggest strongly that the sediments have been further possible explanation as to what happened.
    moved about and some of the old charcoal has Using a mathematical model, it was found that a
    been re-deposited in younger layers. Indeed, one group of 10 people killing only one juvenile
    sample of cow bone found 1 metre below the Diprotodon each year would be sufficient to bring
    surface came from sediments where charcoal about the extinction of that species within 1,000
    dated at 6,000 and 23,000 years old is mixed with years. This suggests that here, as in other parts of
    17,000-year-old sand. The megafauna bones the world, the arrival of humans in lands
    themselves have not yet been dated, although previously inhabited only by animals created a
    new technological developments make this a volatile combination in which large animals fared
    possibility in the near future. badly.
    Questions 27-30

    Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?

    In boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet, write

    YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer


    NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
    NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

    27 Field and Wroe argue that findings at the Cuddie Springs site show that people lived
    in this area at the same time as megafauna.

    28 Fleld and Wroe believe it is likely that smaller megafauna species survived the last
    Ice Age.

    29 The writers believe that the dating of earth up to 1.7m below the present surface
    Cuddie Springs is unreliable.

    30 Some artefacts found at Cuddie Springs were preserved well enough to reveal that
    function.

    Questions 31 - 35

    Complete the summary below using the list of words, A-I, below

    Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 31-35 on your answer sheet.

    The arguments against Field and analysis of the


    scientific data from Cuddie Springs
    One objection to Feld and Wroes interpretation is the large quantity of charcoal, 31
    and artefacts found at Cuddie Springs. Such large numbers of artefacts would be
    impossible if the area had been covered with 32..................... for a period. There is also a
    complete lack of man-made structures, for instance those used for 33 .

    Other evidence that casts doubt on Field and Wroe's claim is the fact that while some
    material in the highest levels of sediment is 36,000 years old, the 34 ................... in the same
    levels is much more recent. The tools used to process plants and animals may also be newer
    than Field and Wroe believe. Further evidence against human occupation of the area is the
    absence of tools and 35 .................. just a short distance away.

    A seeds B stone C sand

    D cooking E deep drill core F water

    G fossil bones H sediment I storage


    Questions 36- 40

    Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

    Write the correct letter in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.

    36 What conclusions did the writers reach about the inconsistencies in the data from
    Cuddie Springs?

    A The different layers of sediment have been mixed over time.


    B The sand evidence is unhelpful and should be disregarded.
    C The area needs to be re-examined when technology improves.
    D The charcoal found in the area cannot be dated.

    37 According to the writers, what impact could a natural phenomenon have had on
    this site?

    A Floods could have caused the death of the megafauna.


    B Floods could have disturbed the archaeological evidence.
    C Bushfires could have prevented humans from settling in the area for
    any length of time.
    D Bushfires could have destroyed much of the evidence left by
    megafauna and humans.

    38 What did the writers speculate about the people who lived at this site in 1876?

    A They bred cattle whose bones could have been confused with
    megafauna.
    B They found that the soil was too waterlogged for farming.
    C They allowed cattle to move around freely at the site.
    D They brought stones there from another area.

    39 In the final paragraph, what suggestion do the writers make about Australia's
    megafauna?

    A A rapid change in climate may have been responsible for the


    extinction of the megafauna.
    B Megafauna could have died out as a result of small numbers being
    killed year after year.
    C The population of humans at that time was probably insufficient to
    cause the extinction of the megafauna.
    D The extinction of ancient animals should not be compared to that of
    modern-day species.

    40 Which of the following best represents the criticism of Fleld and Wroe?

    A Their methods were not well thought out.


    B Their excavations did not go deep enough.
    C Their technology failed to obtain precise data.
    D Their conclusions were based on inconsistent data.

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