Life Of Thor Heyerdahl - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–22 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 23–24 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 25–30 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
The later life of Thor Heyerdahl
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | — | — | |
| Q22 | B / C | Sure. Why don’t you begin with describing the type of boy he was, especially his passion for collecting things. No, it was climbing that he spent his time on as a young man. |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that Thor Heyerdahl spent his time climbing as a young man. Answer Explanation: The answer indicates that Thor Heyerdahl was very interested in climbing and collecting as hobbies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B and C because climbing is mentioned in the transcript as something Thor Heyerdahl spent his time on, and collecting is one of the given hobbies that Thor Heyerdahl was very interested in as a youth. |
| Q23 | — | — | |
| Q24 | B / E | Oh, right … After university he married a classmate and together, they decided to experience living on a small island to find out how harsh weather conditions shaped people’s lifestyles. |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about Heyerdahl and his wife choosing to live on a small island to understand how severe weather conditions influenced people's way of life. Answer Explanation: The answer states that Heyerdahl went to live on an island to experience an isolated place (reason E) and to learn survival skills (reason B). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the fact that Heyerdahl wanted to experience the harsh living conditions on the island, suggesting that he sought isolation and survival challenges as mentioned in the transcript excerpt. |
| Q25 | A | Yes, they thought that travel from the east was impossible, because of the huge, empty stretch of ocean that lies between the islands and the nearest inhabited land. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that people didn't believe Polynesians could travel to the islands from the east because there is a vast, empty ocean between the islands and the nearest inhabited land. Answer Explanation: The answer suggests that Eastern countries were far away as the reason why academics thought Polynesian migration from the east was impossible. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because the excerpt mentions the huge, empty stretch of ocean as the obstacle, implying that the distance from Eastern countries was a significant factor in why academics believed the travel from the east was impossible. |
| Q26 | C | Well, I think it was more a matter of simply trying out his idea, to see if migration from the east was possible. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that Heyerdahl wanted to try out his idea to see if people could have migrated from the east. Answer Explanation: The answer suggests that the main reason for Heyerdahl's raft journey was to test a new theory. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the excerpt as it mentions Heyerdahl trying out his idea to test if migration from the east was possible. This aligns with the idea of testing a new theory, which matches answer choice C. |
| Q27 | C | The most important factor seems to have been that he use only ancient techniques and local materials to build his raft. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how important it was for Heyerdahl to use old techniques and materials from the local area to build his raft. Answer Explanation: The answer says that the important thing for Heyerdahl about his journey was using authentic methods to make the raft. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the excerpt because it highlights Heyerdahl's focus on using ancient techniques and local materials to construct his raft. This shows that he valued authenticity in recreating historical practices for his journey. |
| Q28 | A | But what he wanted to do was talk to the local people about their old stone carvings and then make one himself to learn more about the process. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how Heyerdahl wanted to talk to the local people about their old stone carvings and then make one himself to learn more about the process. Answer Explanation: The answer states that Heyerdahl went to Easter Island to build a stone statue. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because the excerpt mentions that Heyerdahl wanted to make a stone statue himself after talking to the local people about their stone carvings. This aligns with the purpose of going to Easter Island to build a stone statue. |
| Q29 | B | To my mind, he was first person to establish what modern academics call practical archaeology. I mean, that they try to recreate something from the past today | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is saying that Thor Heyerdahl was the first person to show how archaeology is done practically today, meaning trying to recreate things from the past. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Heyerdahl had the greatest influence on the development of archaeological methodology, which is how archaeologists actually do their work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because Heyerdahl's work focused on showing how to practically carry out archaeology, which directly connects to the development of archaeological methodology mentioned in the answer choice. |
| Q30 | A | I thought the research methods he used were very sound, although I must say I found the overall tone somewhat old-fashioned. I think they need to do a new, revised edition. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the methods the textbook author used for research were good, but the overall writing style seemed old-fashioned. The speaker suggests that a new and updated version of the textbook is needed. Answer Explanation: The answer indicates that the criticism of the textbook is about its style being out of date. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions finding the overall tone somewhat old-fashioned, which implies that the style of the textbook is out of date. Although the research methods were considered sound, the speaker feels that the writing style needs to be updated for a new edition. |
Transcript
VICTOR: Right, well, for our presentation shall I start with the early life of Thor Heyerdahl?
OLIVIA: Sure. Why don’t you begin with describing the type of boy he was, especially his passion for collecting things.
VICTOR: That’s right, he had his own the little museum. And I think it’s unusual for children to develop their own values and not join in their parents’ hobbies; I’m thinking of how Heyerdahl wouldn’t go hunting with his dad, for example.
OLIVIA: Yeah, he preferred to learn about nature by listening to his mother read to him. And quite early on he knew he wanted to become an explorer when he grew up. That came from his camping trips he went on in Norway I think …
VICTOR: No, it was climbing that he spent his time on as a young man.
OLIVIA: Oh, right … After university he married a classmate and together, they decided to experience living on a small island, to find out how harsh weather conditions shaped people’s lifestyles.
VICTOR: As part of their preparation before they left home, they learnt basic survival skills like building a shelter. I guess they needed that knowledge in order to live wild in a remote location with few inhabitants, cut of by the sea, which is what they were aiming to do.
OLIVIA: An important part of your talk should be the radical theory Heyerdahl formed from examining mysterious ancient carvings that he happened to find on the island. I think you should finish with that.
VICTOR: OK.
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OLIVIA: All right, Victor, so after your part I’ll talk about Thor Heyerdahl’s adult life, continuing from the theory he had about Polynesian migration: Up until that time of course, academics had believed that humans first migrated to the islands in Polynesia from Asia, in the west.
VICTOR: Yes, they thought that travel from the east was impossible, because of the huge, empty stretch of ocean that lies between the islands and the nearest inhabited land.
OLIVIA: Yes, but Heyerdahl spent ages studying the cloud movements, ocean currents and wind patterns to find if it was actually possible. And another argument was that there was no tradition of large ship-building in the communities lying to the east of Polynesia. But Heyerdahl knew they made lots of coastal voyages in locally built canoes.
VICTOR: Yes, or sailing on rafts, as was shown by the long voyage that Heyerdahl did next. It was an incredibly risky journey to undertake – sometimes I wonder if he did that trip for private reasons, you know? To show others that he could have spectacular adventures. What do you think, Olivia?
OLIVIA: Well, I think it was more a matter of simply trying out his idea, to see if migration from the east was possible.
VICTOR: Yes, that’s probably it. And the poor guy suffered a bit at that time because the war forced him to stop his work for some years …
OLIVIA: Yes. When he got started again and planned his epic voyage, do you think it was important to him that he achieve it before anyone else did?
VICTOR: Um, I haven’t read anywhere that that was his motivation. The most important factor seems to have been that he use only ancient techniques and local materials to build his raft.
OLIVIA: Yes. I wonder how fast it went.
VICTOR: Well, it took them 97 days from South America to the Pacific Island.
OLIVIA: Mm. And after that, Heyerdahl went to Easter Island, didn’t he? We should mention the purpose of that trip. I think he sailed there in a boat made out of reeds.
VICTOR: No, that was later on in Egypt, Olivia.
OLIVIA: Oh, yes, that’s right.
VICTOR: But what he wanted to do was talk to the local people about their old stone carvings and then make one himself to learn more about the process.
OLIVIA: I see. Well, what a great life. Even though many of his theories have been disproven, he certainly left a lasting impression on many disciplines, didn’t he? To my mind, he was first person to establish what modern academics call practical archaeology. I mean, that they try to recreate something from the past today, like he did with his raft trip. It’s unfortunate that his ideas about where Polynesians originated from have been completely discredited.
VICTOR: Yes. Right, well, I’ll prepare a PowerPoint slide at the end that acknowledges our sources. I mainly used The Life and Work of Thor Heyerdahl by William Oliver. I thought the research methods he used were very sound, although I must say I found the overall tone somewhat old-fashioned. I think they need to do a new, revised edition.
OLIVIA: Yeah, I agree. What about the subject matter – I found it really challenging!
VICTOR: Well, it’s a complex issue …
OLIVIA: I thought the book had lots of good points. What did you think of …