Stonehenge - IELTS Reading Answers

The ‘Stonehenge’ Academic Reading Passage is a good resource for anyone who is preparing for the IELTS Reading test. This passage will help you understand what kind of reading passages you will encounter and the questions that you will be asked to solve.

By taking the ‘Stonehenge’ IELTS Reading Answer, you can acquaint yourself with the types of questions that you will be asked and the level of difficulty that you can expect.

The question types in this Reading Passage include:

• IELTS Diagram Labelling (Q. 28-31)
• IELTS Matching Information (Q. 32-40)

For more IELTS Reading practice, take more IELTS reading practice tests.

Reading Passage

Stonehenge

Approximately two miles west of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in southern England stands Stonehenge, one of the world’s most famous megalithic monuments. The remains of Stonehenge consist of a series of stone structures arranged in layers of circular and horseshoe-lie patterns. Theories and myths concerning this mysterious monument have flourished for thousands of years. The Danes, Egyptians, and Druids are just a few of the groups who have been credited with building Stonehenge. Some people have even made attempts to prove that aliens erected Stonehenge. Early historians believed that the monument was constructed as a memorial to nobles

killed In combat, while other later theorists described Stonehenge as a place for sacrificial ceremonies. Regardless of who but the monument and why all of the legends surrounding these megaliths are based on speculation. With the exception of archaeological evidence, very little of what we understand about Stonehenge today can actually be called fact.

Stonehenge was constructed in three phases during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Stonehenge period 1, also commonly referred to as Phase 1, Is believed to have occurred sometime around 3000 B.C. during the middle Neolithic period. In this first step of the construction, picks made of deer antlers were used to dig a series of 56 pits. These pits were later named “Aubrey Holes” after an English scholar. Outside of the holes was

dug a large circular henge (a ditch with an earthen wall). During this phase, a break, or entranceway was also dug on the northeast corner of the henge. Archaeologists today refer to this break as the Avenue. Two stones were set on the Avenue. The “Slaughter Stone” was placed just inside the circle, while the “Heel Stone” was placed 27 meters down the Avenue. The Heel Stone weighs about 35 tons and is made of natural sandstone, believed to have

originated from Marlborough Downs, an area 20 miles north of the monument. The 35-foot-wide Avenue is set so that, from the center of Stonehenge, a person would be able to see the sunrise to the left of the heel stone. Just inside the henge, four other “Station Stones” were placed in a rectangular formation.

There is great debate over how long the first phase of Stonehenge was used and when the original alterations were made; however, the second phase is generally placed between 2900 B.C. and 2400 B.C. and accredited to the Beaker people. It is thought that many wooden posts were added to the monument during this phase. One of the problems archaeologists have had with Phase 2 is that unlike stone or holes in the earth, Wood does not hold up over thousands of years. The numerous stakeholes in the earth tell the story of where these posts were positioned. Besides the ones in the center of the henge, six rows of posts were placed near the entrance. These may have been used to mark astronomical measurements or to guide people to the center. The original Aubrey holes were filled in either with earth or cremation remains. Many archaeologists believed that the Beaker people were sun worshipers and that they may have purposely changed the main axis of the monument and widened the entrance during this phase in order to show their appreciation for the sun.

The final phase of Stonehenge is usually described in terms of three subphases, each one involving a set of large stones. The first stones that arrived were bluestones, brought all the way from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales. A horseshoe of paired bluestones was placed in the center of the henge, with a tall Altar Stone marking the end of the formation. In the next subphase, a 30-meter ring of sandstones called the Sarsen Circle was built around the bluestone. Only 17 of the original 30 stones remain. These sarsen stones were connected with lintel blocks, each precisely carved in order to fit end-to-end and form perfectly with the stone circle. Approximately 60 more bluestones were then added inside the original horseshoe.

How these enormous stones were transported and raised in Phase 3 remains a mystery. The fact that these monoliths were built before the wheel means an incredible amount of manual labor was used. It is believed that a pulley system using rollers still would have required at least one hundred men to operate. Raising the lintels and fitting them into one another would have been another major struggle without the use of machines. Stonehenge remains one of the world’s greatest mysteries and one of England’s most important icons.

List of answers

A Aubrey Holes

b HeelStone

C Marlborough Downs

D Avenue

E Henge

F Station Stones

28 ………………………..

29 ………………………..

30 ………………………..

31 ………………………..

List of phases

A If it occurred during Phase 1

B If it occurred during Phase 2

C If it occurred during Phase 3

32 The entrance was made wider.

33 The Slaughter Stone was erected.

34 Stones were placed in a horseshoe formation.

35 Wooden posts were set near the entrance.

36 Deer antlers were used to dig holes.

37 Bluestones were brought from a distant location.

38 A ring of sandstones was constructed.

39 Holes were filled with dirt.

40 The Altar Stone was erected.

Stonehenge - IELTS Reading Answers with Location and Explanation

Don’t miss the answer key for the Stonehenge IELTS Reading passage, complete with detailed explanations, and prepare to score a high IELTS Reading band score

28 Answer: E

Question type: Diagram Labelling

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 5 – line 7

Answer explanation: The selected lines says that “Outside of the holes was

dug a large circular henge (a ditch with an earthen wall). During this phase, a break, or entranceway was also dug on the northeast corner of the henge.” This tells us that the portion of the Stonehenge that lies at the outermost section is the circular henge inside which lies the holes and there is also a break in the north-eastern corner as shown in the diagram. Hence the answer is E (henge).

29 Answer: A

Question type: Diagram Labelling

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 3 – line 6

Answer explanation: In the mentioned lines of the second paragraph, it is said that “In this first step of the construction, picks made of deer antlers were used to dig a series of 56 pits. These pits were later named “Aubrey Holes” after an English scholar. Outside of the holes was dug a large circular henge (a ditch with an earthen wall).” This proves that the 56 holes or pits marked in this question are the Aubrey Holes and are placed inside the circular henge. Hence the answer is A (Aubrey Holes).

30 Answer: D

Question type: Diagram Labelling

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 6 – line 8

Answer explanation: The lines in this paragraph says that “During this phase, a break, or entranceway was also dug on the northeast corner of the henge. Archaeologists today refer to this break as the Avenue.” These sentences point out that the break or gap marked in this question is found in the north-eastern corner of the circular structure and is named as the Avenue. Hence the answer is D (Avenue).

31 Answer: B

Question type: Diagram Labelling

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 9 – line 11

Answer explanation: In the specified line, it is stated that “…while the “Heel Stone” was placed 27 meters down the Avenue. The Heel Stone weighs about 35 tons and is made of natural sandstone, believed to have originated from Marlborough Downs, an area 20 miles north of the monument.” These sentences point out that the structure marked in this question is the Heelstone, that is close to the Avenue in the north-eastern part of the structure. Hence the answer is B (HeelStone).

32 Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 2- line 3 & line 10 – line 12

Answer explanation: The mentioned lines from the third paragraph says that “…however, the second phase is generally placed between 2900 B.C. and 2400 B.C. and accredited to the Beaker people.” and “Many archaeologists believed that the Beaker people were sun worshipers and that they may have purposely changed the main axis of the monument and widened the entrance during this phase in order to show their appreciation for the sun.” These lines make it clear that the Beakers made the entrance wider in Phase 2. Hence the answer is B.

33 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 2 & line 8-line 9

Answer explanation: The mentioned line of Paragraph 2 says that “Stonehenge period 1, also commonly referred to as Phase 1…” & “The “Slaughter Stone” was placed just inside the circle, while the “Heel Stone” was placed 27 meters down the Avenue.” Both the lines in the second paragraph prove that the Slaughter Stone was erected in the first phase of the construction. Hence, the answer is A.

34 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1- line 4

Answer explanation: The specified lines state that “The final phase of Stonehenge is usually described in terms of three subphases, each one involving a set of large stones. …A horseshoe of paired bluestones was placed in the center of the henge…” So, it is clear that the bluestones were placed in a horseshoe formation in Phase 3. Hence the answer is C.

35 Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph C, line 4- line 7

Answer explanation: The lines from Paragraph C says that “One of the problems archaeologists have had with Phase 2 is that unlike stone or holes in the earth, Wood does not hold up over thousands of years. The numerous stake holes in the earth tell the story of where these posts were positioned. Besides the ones in the center of the henge, six rows of posts were placed near the entrance.” It states that wooden posts were set near the entrance in the second phase. Hence the answer is B.

36 Answer: A

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 2, line 2 – line 4

Answer explanation: The lines from Paragraph 2 says that “Stonehenge period 1, also commonly referred to as Phase 1, Is believed to have occurred sometime around 3000 B.C. during the middle Neolithic period. In this first step of the construction, picks made of deer antlers were used to dig a series of 56 pits.” It states that in Phase 1 of the construction, deer antlers were used to dig 56 holes or pits. Hence the answer is A.

37 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1 – line 3

Answer explanation: The provided lines says that “The final phase of Stonehenge is usually described in terms of three subphases, each one involving a set of large stones. The first stones that arrived were bluestones, brought all the way from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales.” These lines prove that in the final phase of the Stonehenge, that is Phase 3, bluestones were brought from a distant location which is the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Hence, the answer is C.

38 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1 – line 5

Answer explanation: The lines from the fourth paragraph says that “The final phase of Stonehenge is usually described in terms of three subphases, each one involving a set of large stones. … In the next subphase, a 30-meter ring of sandstones called the Sarsen Circle was built around the bluestone.” It states that a ring of sandstones was constructed around the bluestone in the final or third phase. Hence the answer is C.

39 Answer: B

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 3, line 2 – line 3 & line 9

Answer explanation: The lines from Paragraph 3 says that “ …the second phase is generally placed between 2900 B.C. and 2400 B.C.” & “The original Aubrey holes were filled in either with earth or cremation remains.” It states that in Phase 2, the holes were filled with dirt (earth or cremation remains). Hence the answer is B.

40 Answer: C

Question type: Matching Information

Answer location: Paragraph 4, line 1 – line 4

Answer explanation: The lines from Paragraph 4 says that “The final phase of Stonehenge is usually described in terms of three subphases, each one involving a set of large stones. … with a tall Altar Stone marking the end of the formation.” It states that the Altar Stone was erected in the final phase of the Stonehenge. Hence the answer is C.

Tips for Answering the Question Types in The Stonehenge Reading Answers

Now let’s get started with the IELTS exam preparation tips for each question type. It’ll help you understand how to approach the problem of each question type.

Diagram Labeling Questions

When tackling diagram labeling questions in IELTS Reading, start by carefully examining the diagram to understand its key features and how different parts relate. Before diving into the text, familiarize yourself with the labels you need to fill in. As you read, scan for relevant information and look for synonyms of the diagram labels. Always ensure your answers logically fit within the diagram's context. This approach will help you efficiently locate the correct information and accurately label the diagram.

Matching Information Questions

For matching information questions, begin by reading the questions to know what specific details to seek. Skim the text to grasp its overall structure, then search for keywords and synonyms related to the questions. Pay close attention to paragraph topics and topic sentences, as they often contain crucial information. As you progress, eliminate options to narrow down your choices, making the task more manageable. This systematic method will improve your speed and accuracy in identifying the correct matches.

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