# Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 3, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 3, Reading Passage 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | FALSE | became the first archaeologists to explore Obi |
| 2 | FALSE | Axes made from clam shells from roughly the same time had also previously been found elsewhere in this region |
| 3 | TRUE | meaning Obi was a much larger island |
| 4 | NOT GIVEN | the climate became significantly warmer and wetter, no doubt making Obi's jungle much thicker |
| 5 | TRUE | it is no coincidence that around this time the first axes crafted from stone rather than sea shells appear |
| 6 | NOT GIVEN | people living there mainly hunted the Rothschild's cuscus |
| 7 | FALSE | But then, about 8,000 years ago, both were abandoned. |
| 8 | caves | Shipton and his colleagues found two caves containing prehistoric rock shelters that were suitable for excavation. |
| 9 | stone | it is no coincidence that around this time the first axes crafted from stone rather than sea shells appear |
| 10 | bones | Judging by the bones which the researchers unearthed in the Kelo caves |
| 11 | beads | It also revealed particular types of beads |
| 12 | pottery | when they were re-occupied by people who owned pottery as well as items made out of gold and silver. |
| 13 | spices | that this final phase of occupation also saw the Kelo shelters used by people involved in the historic trade in spices between the Maluku islands and the rest of the world. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. FALSE.** Paragraph A says Shipton and his colleagues 'became the first archaeologists to explore Obi' in 2019. If they were the first, no archaeological research can have happened there earlier, so the statement contradicts the passage and is FALSE.

**2. FALSE.** Paragraph C says clam shell axes from about the same period 'had also previously been found elsewhere in this region', for example on Gebe. Since similar axes had been found before, those at Kelo were not the first, so the statement is FALSE.

**3. TRUE.** About 18,000 years ago sea levels were 120 meters lower, 'meaning Obi was a much larger island' that included what is now Bisa. If Obi was larger then, it is smaller today, so the statement is TRUE.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/archaeologists-discover-evidence-of-prehistoric-island-settlers/answers).

[Practice Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric island settlers](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/archaeologists-discover-evidence-of-prehistoric-island-settlers)