The Aztec Empire - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 09 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
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Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
General History
- The Aztec empire existed between the 31 century.
- The 32 of Aztec was in the centre of the modern Mexico City.
Food
- The staple food of the Aztec empire was 33 which has been domesticated for thousands of years, and spread to the rest of the world from Mexico.
- 34 are also part of the Aztec diet.
Clothing
- The clothing of the Aztec was diverse based on different 35.
- Aztec clothes were generally made of imported cotton or ayate fiber.
- The Aztecs were able to create beautiful colours using a lot of 36.
Education
- Girls were instructed about cooking, caring for a family, 37 and ways to economically run the home.
- Boys, however, learned trades, fighting skills and 38 skills.
Religion
- The Aztecs went to temples to 39 and send their tribute.
- The tribute included not only agricultural produce but also 40 goods.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | 14th and 16th | Collectively, the people of the allied Central Mexican and American city states between the 14th century and the 16th century Spanish invasion are commonly referred to as the Aztecs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the group of people called the Aztecs lived during the time between the 14th century and the 16th century. Answer Explanation: The answer means the two time periods: the fourteenth century and the sixteenth century. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "14th and 16th" because the speaker explains that the Aztec people lived between the "14th century and the 16th century Spanish invasion". Pay attention to the keywords "between" and "century". |
| Q32 | capital city | The Aztec's capital city was located at Tenochtitlan, which is the site of the modem Mexico City | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the main city of the Aztecs, known as Tenochtitlan, was built where modern Mexico City stands today. Answer Explanation: The answer "capital city" means the main or most important city where a government or empire is based. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's statement about Tenochtitlan, the main city of the Aztecs. The speaker mentions that the Aztec's "capital city" was situated at Tenochtitlan, which corresponds to modern Mexico City. |
| Q33 | maize | Maize was the staple grain of the Aztec empire. Maize has been domesticated for thousands of years, and it likely first came into common use in Mexico, spreading to the rest of the world from there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that maize (corn) was the main grain eaten by the Aztecs, that people have grown it for thousands of years, and that it spread from Mexico to other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to corn, which is a type of yellow grain used for food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker's discussion of Aztec food. The notes state that the "staple food" was a crop domesticated for thousands of years that spread globally from Mexico. In the talk, the speaker specifically mentions that "Maize was the staple grain of the Aztec empire" and notes that it has been domesticated for thousands of years. |
| Q34 | Beans and squash | Aztec food also included beans and squash | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript directly tells us that the Aztecs ate beans and squash as part of their meals. Answer Explanation: The answer means two specific foods: beans and a type of vegetable called squash. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's discussion about food. The speaker states that in addition to maize, Aztec food "also included beans and squash." In the notes, the phrase "part of the Aztec diet" directly matches the idea of "Aztec food also included". |
| Q35 | social class | And more importantly, it varied according to the social class that people belonged to | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the clothes people wore were different depending on their level or rank in society. Answer Explanation: The answer means a person's rank or level in society, such as rich or poor. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker's statement about clothing. In the notes, "diverse based on different" matches the speaker saying the clothing was rich in variety and "varied according to the social class that people belonged to." |
| Q36 | dyes | Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant colours still seen in Mexico today | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that trade allowed the Aztec people to use many different coloring materials (dyes) to make bright, lovely colors. Answer Explanation: The answer "dyes" means substances used to add color to materials like cloth. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker explains that the Aztecs used a wide range of dyes from their trade network to make bright and beautiful colors on their clothing. In the notes, the phrase "using a lot of" matches "make use of a beautiful array of" in the talk. |
| Q37 | crafts | Girls were taught how to run a home, cook, and care for a family, but they were also taught things like crafts and ways to economically run the home | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that young females learned cooking, looking after their families, running a household smartly, and making handmade items (crafts). Answer Explanation: The answer "crafts" refers to activities of making decorative or practical items by hand. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "crafts" because the note asks what girls were taught in addition to cooking, taking care of a family, and managing home expenses. In the talk, the speaker explains that girls were "taught things like crafts" alongside these other household skills. The word "instructed" in the prompt is a synonym for "taught". |
| Q38 | leadership | Boys learned other trades and were also taught fighting skills and leadership skills | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Aztec boys were trained in different jobs, as well as how to fight and how to be leaders. Answer Explanation: The answer "leadership" refers to the ability to guide, direct, or be in charge of a group of people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "leadership" because the speaker discusses what boys learned in the Aztec education system. The notes say: "Boys, however, learned trades, fighting skills and [input] skills." In the talk, the speaker explicitly states that boys learned other trades, fighting skills, and "leadership skills." |
| Q39 | worship and pray | The priests of the Aztec religion went to these temples to worship and pray, and make offerings to the gods to keep them strong and in balance | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Aztec religious leaders visited temples in order to honor their gods and say prayers to them. Answer Explanation: The answer "worship and pray" means to show deep respect and honor to gods, and to speak or make requests to them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "worship and pray" because the speaker discusses what took place at Aztec temples under the topic of religion. According to the talk, the priests went to these sacred buildings specifically to "worship and pray" and bring offerings to the gods. |
| Q40 | rare and precious | Tribute-payers were also obliged to produce certain quantities of rare and precious goods | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the people who paid tribute had to supply specific amounts of items that were uncommon and valuable. Answer Explanation: The answer means things that are hard to find and worth a lot of value. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker explains what kind of items were paid as tribute. The speaker mentions that besides farm produce, people also had to give "rare and precious goods." |
Transcript
Most people today are familiar with the Aztec empire. But it may surprise you to know that there is a great deal of disagreement over what kind of an "empire" it really was. This Aztec empire history may surprise you.
Now let's take a look at an Aztec timeline to get an overview of what happened during the times of this civilisation.
Collectively, the people of the allied Central Mexican and American city states between the 14th century and the 16th century Spanish invasion are commonly referred to as the Aztecs. The Aztec empire was controlled primarily by a political body called the Triple Alliance. The Aztec's capital city was located at Tenochtitlan, which is the site of the modem Mexico City, and their empire covered nearly all of the current country of Mexico, extending down into other regions of Central America as well.
Then, Progressing to the subject of food, Aztec food was a rich combination of many foods that we take for granted today. Not only is much of this rich diet still common in Mexico today, it's spread around the world. Let's look at some of what the ancient Mexica peoples ate. Maize was the staple grain of the Aztec empire. Maize has been domesticated for thousands of years, and it likely first came into common use in Mexico, spreading to the rest of the world from there. Mexico is still one of the world's top maize growing countries. Aztec food also included beans and squash. Of course, maize and beans are still a cornerstone of the Mexican diet, a healthy combination especially if you're not eating a lot of meat.
OK, now, moving forward onto the area of clothing. Ancient Aztec clothing, that is, the clothing worn by the tribes that made up the Aztec empire (such as the Mexica people), was rich in variety. And more importantly, it varied according to the social class that people belonged to.
Ancient Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed.
Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton - which was imported - or ayatefiber, made from the Maguey Cactus. Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant colours still seen in Mexico today.
Next, let's look at the education situation of the Aztec. The Mexica people of the Aztec empire had compulsory education for everyone, regardless of gender or class. In the end, people in the Aztec society were generally well educated, though boys received a wider education than girls.
Girls were taught how to run a home, cook, and care for a family, but they were also taught things like crafts and ways to economically run the home. In this way women had a lot of power in society, though it was behind the scenes. Boys learned other trades and were also taught fighting skills and leadership skills.
Finally then, let's look at Aztec temples. Aztec temples were called, by the Mexica people of the empire, Teocalli-God houses. The priests of the Aztec religion went to these temples to worship and pray, and make offerings to the gods to keep them strong and in balance.
How did they send their tribute? Well, Aztecs collected tribute from the various parts of Mexico that fell under their control. Much of this tribute was in the form of agricultural produce such as cotton, maize and beans which supplemented the agricultural yield in and around Mexico-Tenochtitlan. Tribute-payers were also obliged to produce certain quantities of rare and precious goods. According to the tribute list preserved in the Codex Mendoza these included jaguar pelts, deer skins, rubber, feathers, gold, jade, turquoise, sea shells, warrior costumes, and even live eagles.