Traditional Polynesian Navigation - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–40 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Traditional Polynesian Navigation
− Introduction
- the islands of Polynesia are in the Pacific Ocean
- the Polynesian peoples originally migrated from 31 to the Pacific islands
- European explorers were impressed that Polynesian canoes were 32 than European ships
− Equipment on ocean-going canoes
- paddles were use for 33
- sails were made from the pandanus plant
- warm clothes were made from 34 of the paper mulberry tree
− How Polynesians navigated at sea
- they did not have the magnetic compass
- they remembered where stars rose and set by making up detailed 35
- when it was cloudy, they found the direction by using 36
− Finding new islands
- they could identify certain 37 that only live near land
- close to land, they could read changes in the sea’s 38
− Recent history
- in 1967 the canoe Hokule’a sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti without 39
- now replica traditional canoes have sailed across the Pacific and around the world
- as well as sailing, these voyages have created fresh interest in Polynesian culture, music and 40
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | Asia | Today, anthropologists recognise that the Polynesians began their journeys in Asia and from there migrated eastwards to the Pacific islands | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that scientists who study humans now know that the Polynesian people started their travel in Asia and moved from that place toward the east to find the islands. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Asia' is the location where the Polynesian people first started their travels before moving to the islands in the Pacific Ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Asia' because the transcript explains that experts today agree on the origin of these people. While some once thought they came from the Americas, the student states that they actually began their trips in Asia and then moved (migrated) east to reach the islands. Keywords like 'began their journeys' and 'migrated' help confirm that this is the starting point. |
| Q32 | faster | European ships were much stronger, but the indigenous vessels were considerably faster when under sail | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although European ships were built to be tougher, the local Polynesian boats (vessels) moved with much more speed (faster) during sailing. Answer Explanation: The answer "faster" means that the Polynesian boats could move at a higher speed compared to the European ships. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "faster" because the transcript mentions that while European ships had more strength, the local (indigenous) boats were much quicker. The speaker uses the word "considerably" to show that there was a big difference in speed between the two types of ships when they were using their sails. |
| Q33 | steering | Instead the paddles were positioned at the back of the canoe to make steering the vessel possible | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the paddles were put at the back of the boat to make it possible to guide or turn the boat. Answer Explanation: The answer 'steering' means controlling the direction in which a boat or a vehicle travels. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'steering' because the transcript explains that the large paddles were not used to push the boat forward (which is called propulsion). Instead, they were placed at the back of the boat to help the sailors guide its direction. The speaker explicitly states that these paddles made 'steering the vessel' possible. In this context, 'vessel' is another word for the canoe. |
| Q34 | bark | However, the paper mulberry tree grows on most Pacific islands and its bark was remarkably flexible and was used in the manufacture of clothing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the bark from the paper mulberry tree was easy to bend and was used to make clothes for the people. Answer Explanation: The answer 'bark' refers to the tough outer layer or skin of a tree's trunk and branches. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'bark' because the student explains that the Polynesians used the outer layer of the paper mulberry tree to make their clothes. Since they didn't have materials like wool or cotton, they used this flexible part of the tree instead. |
| Q35 | songs | However, this information about the stars was extremely complex and therefore remembering it all was a challenge. So the navigators had created long and complicated songs to help them recall all the information they needed | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that because learning about the stars was very hard, the navigators made long, difficult songs so they could remember everything. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Polynesian navigators used music with words to remember many facts about the stars. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'songs' because the speaker mentions that keeping all the star information in mind was difficult. To solve this challenge and help them remember (recall) the directions, they made long and complicated songs. |
| Q36 | waves | But when it was cloudy, the navigators couldn’t see the stars. How did they find direction then? Well, they still knew which way to sail the canoe by studying the waves, which usually came from predictable directions in the Pacific at different times of the year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when clouds made it impossible to see the stars, the navigators looked at the waves. Because waves usually move in the same way at specific times, the sailors could use them to find the right way to go. Answer Explanation: The answer 'waves' refers to the moving ridges of water on the surface of the ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'waves' because the speaker explains how sailors found their way when they could not see the sky. When clouds covered the stars, the navigators looked at the patterns of the water. Because these movements happened in a specific way depending on the time of year, they could use them to find the right direction. |
| Q37 | birds | The navigators were experts at recognising those particular birds whose habitat was the open ocean, and those that lived close to islands | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the people sailing the boats were very good at identifying different animals in the sky. They knew which ones lived far out at sea and which ones stayed near land, which helped them find new islands. Answer Explanation: The answer is a type of animal with wings that flies in the sky. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "birds" because the speaker explains how ancient sailors used animals in the sky to find land. By knowing which specific types of animals lived only near land instead of in the middle of the ocean, they could tell if an island was close by. |
| Q38 | colour / color | The temperature of the water is constant in that part of the Pacific but its colour could vary in the proximity of land, and that was something else that they were able to detect | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while the heat of the ocean stays the same, the color of the water changes when you get close to an island, and the sailors were able to see this. Answer Explanation: The answer means the visual appearance or hue of the ocean water, such as whether it looks blue or green. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "colour / color" because the transcript explains how Polynesian navigators looked for signs of land when they were out at sea. It states that although the water temperature does not change, the appearance of the sea water does look different when land is nearby. The navigators were very good at noticing these changes to find their way. The word "proximity" identifies that they were close to land. |
| Q39 | instruments | This canoe was sailed from Hawai’i to Tahiti, a distance of more than 4000 kilometres across open ocean. And all the navigation was done using the techniques I’ve outlined today – the crew did not use modern instruments on the voyage | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that when the boat travelled from Hawaii to Tahiti, the people on board used traditional ways to find their direction and did not use any new or modern tools. Answer Explanation: The answer means tools or equipment used by sailors to find their way or measure things while travelling on the ocean. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'instruments' because the speaker describes a special trip taken by a boat called the Hokule’a from Hawaii to Tahiti. During this trip, the sailors used old skills instead of today's technology. Specifically, the speaker says the crew 'did not use modern instruments,' which matches the phrase 'without instruments' in the notes. |
| Q40 | languages / language | The canoes themselves operate as floating classrooms teaching young people about, for example, the music their ancestors once enjoyed. Another aspect of this has been the teaching of Polynesian languages, some of which were in danger of dying out | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the boats are used as schools on the water. These schools teach young people about the music and the languages of their ancestors to keep their culture alive. Answer Explanation: The answer is the word languages. It refers to the different systems of communication used by the Polynesian people, which are now being taught again. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is languages because the text describes how traditional canoe trips have made Polynesian people excited about their history again. The speaker says the canoes are like schools where young people learn about music and Polynesian languages. In the summary, 'languages' completes the list of subjects (culture, music, and languages) that people are interested in learning. |
Transcript
You will hear an anthropology student given a talk about traditional Polynesian navigation.
Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
Student: Hi everyone. Today I’m going to be talking about traditional Polynesian navigation and voyaging. Now, in case you don’t know, the islands of Polynesia are in the Pacific Ocean and include Hawaii, Tahiti and Samoa.
All of these islands were originally uninhabited by humans. And for many years there was a debate about where the Polynesian people had migrated from. It was once suggested that they came from the Americas. However, that debate has been settled. Today, anthropologists recognise that the Polynesians began their journeys in Asia and from there migrated eastwards to the Pacific islands. It’s believed all the Polynesian islands had been settled by the 13th century. When European explorers arrived in the Pacific in the 17th and 18th centuries, they were impressed by the local canoes. European ships were much stronger, but the indigenous vessels were considerably faster when under sail.
What we now know is that Polynesians sailed across open ocean – out of sight of land – long before this occurred elsewhere. And to make these voyages possible, they built remarkable ocean-going canoes. The canoes had two hulls – so are sometimes called ‘catamarans’. They were equipped with large paddles, but these were not a form of propulsion. Instead the paddles were positioned at the back of the canoe to make steering the vessel possible.
All these ocean-going canoes had sails. Polynesian sails were triangular in shape and made from the ‘pandanus’ plant, which grows on nearly all Pacific islands. It was also necessary to make warm clothing, as even in tropical waters people could get cold on long voyages. Materials like wool and cotton were unknown to Polynesians. However, the paper mulberry tree grows on most Pacific islands and its bark was remarkably flexible and was used in the manufacture of clothing.
Next we come to the issue of navigation at sea. How did Polynesians find their way, once they were out of sight of land? We know that they did not have the magnetic compass, which told other navigators which direction was north. But the Polynesian navigators understood where numerous stars rose and set on the horizon. And using this, they could identify 32 different directions. However, this information about the stars was extremely complex and therefore remembering it all was a challenge. So the navigators had created long and complicated songs to help them recall all the information they needed.
Using the stars to navigate was effective – so long as the sky was clear. But when it was cloudy, the navigators couldn’t see the stars. How did they find direction then? Well, they still knew which way to sail the canoe by studying the waves, which usually came from predictable directions in the Pacific at different times of the year.
Sometimes they were sailing between islands they had visited before. But very often they were trying to find new islands. How did they know that land was nearby, just over the horizon? Well, there were various techniques. The navigators were experts at recognising those particular birds whose habitat was the open ocean, and those that lived close to islands. So this was one way they knew that land wasn’t far away. They were also skilled at noticing changes to the sea itself. The temperature of the water is constant in that part of the Pacific but its colour could vary in the proximity of land, and that was something else that they were able to detect.
Well, as technology developed, traditional voyaging all but died out. The Polynesian peoples travelled by steam ship and later aeroplane, like everyone else. However, in recent history, there has been renewed interest in traditional voyaging. It began in 1976 when a new canoe named Hokule’a was built as a replica of traditional Polynesian vessels. This canoe was sailed from Hawai’i to Tahiti, a distance of more than 4000 kilometres across open ocean. And all the navigation was done using the techniques I’ve outlined today – the crew did not use modern instruments on the voyage. Since then there has been a remarkable renaissance of traditional voyaging. Numerous canoes have been built in different Polynesian countries, which have sailed to almost every part of the Pacific. And the Hokule’a has now completed a 3-year circumnavigation of the world. As well as sailing, these voyages have sparked renewed interest among Polynesians in learning about their traditional cultures. The canoes themselves operate as floating classrooms teaching young people about, for example, the music their ancestors once enjoyed. Another aspect of this has been the teaching of Polynesian languages, some of which were in danger of dying out.
Now one thing I’d like to add is…