Ancient Chinese Chariots - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 4 Academic Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 14–26
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
Ancient Chinese Chariots
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty, according to traditional historiography, ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC. Archaeological work at the Ruins of Yin (near modern-day Anyang), which has been identified as the last Shang capital, uncovered eleven major Yin royal tombs and the foundations of palaces and ritual sites, containing weapons of war and remains from both animal and human sacrifices.
The Tomb of Fu Hao is an archaeological site at Yinxu, the ruins of the ancient Shang Dynasty's capital Yin, within the modern city of Anyang in Henan Province, China. Discovered in 1976, it was identified as the final resting place of the queen and military general Fu Hao. The artefacts unearthed within the grave included jade objects, bone objects, bronze objects etc. These grave goods are confirmed by the oracle texts, which constitute almost all of the first hand written record we possess of the Shang Dynasty. Below the corpse was a small pit holding the remains of six sacrificial dogs and along the edge lay the skeletons of human slaves, evidence of human sacrifice.
The Terracotta Army was discovered on 29 March 1974 to the east of Xi'an in Shaanxi. The terracotta soldiers were accidentally discovered when a group of local farmers was digging a well during a drought around 1.6 km (1 mile) east of the Qin Emperor's tomb around at Mount Li (Lishan), a region riddled with underground springs and watercourses. Experts currently place the entire number of soldiers at 8,000 — with 130 chariots (130 cm long), 530 horses and 150 cavalry horses helping to ward off any dangers in the afterlife. In contrast, the burial of Tutankhamun yielded six complete but dismantled chariots of unparalleled richness and sophistication. Each was designed for two people (90 cm long) and had its axle sawn through to enable it to be brought along the narrow corridor into the tomb.
Excavation of ancient Chinese chariots has confirmed the descriptions of them in the earliest texts. Wheels were constructed from a variety of woods: elm provided the hub, rose-wood the spokes and oak the felloes. The hub was drilled through to form an empty space into which the tempered axle was fitted, the whole being covered with leather to retain lubricating oil. Though the number of spokes varied, a wheel by the fourth century BC usually had eighteen to thirty-two of them. Records show how elaborate was the testing of each completed wheel: flotation and weighing were regarded as the best measures of balance, but even the empty spaces in the assembly were checked with millet grains. One outstanding constructional asset of the ancient Chinese wheel was dishing. Dishing refers to the dish-like shape of an advanced wooden wheel, which looks rather like a flat cone. On occasion they chose to strengthen a dished wheel with a pair of struts running from rim to rim on each of the hub. As these extra supports were inserted separately into the felloes, they would have added even greater strength to the wheel. Leather wrapped up the edge of the wheel aimed to retain bronze.
Within a millennium, however, Chinese chariot-makers had developed a vehicle with shafts, the precursor of the true carriage or cart. This design did not make its appearance in Europe until the end of the Roman Empire. Because the shafts curved upwards, and the harness pressed against a horse's shoulders, not his neck, the shaft chariot was incredibly efficient. The halberd was also part of a chariot standard weaponry. This halberd usually measured well over 3 metres in length, which meant that a chariot warrior wielding it sideways could strike down the charioteer in a passing chariot. The speed of the chariot which was tested on the sand was quite fast. At speed these passes were very dangerous for the crews of both chariots.
The advantages offered by the new chariots were not entirely missed. They could see how there were literally the Warring States, whose conflicts lasted down the Qin unification of China. Qin Shi Huang was buried in the most opulent tomb complex ever constructed in China, a sprawling, city-size collection of underground caverns containing everything the emperor would need for the afterlife. Even a collection of terracotta armies called Terra-Cotta Warriors was buried in it. The ancient Chinese, along with many cultures including ancient Egyptians, believed that items and even people buried with a person could be taken with him to the afterlife.
Questions
Questions 14–17 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 18–23 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS from the passage for each answer.
The hub is made of wood from the tree of 18
The room through the hub was to put tempered axle, which is wrapped up by leather, aiming to retain 19
The number of spokes varies from 20
The shape of wheel resembles a 21
Two 22 was used to strengthen the wheel.
The edge of the wheel was wrapped up by leather aiming to retain 23
Questions 24–26 Short Answers
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | TRUE | The artefacts unearthed within the grave included jade objects, bone objects, bronze objects etc. These grave goods are confirmed by the oracle texts, which constitute almost all of the first hand written record we possess of the Shang Dynasty | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the items found in the grave, called 'artefacts' or 'grave goods', were also mentioned and verified by 'oracle texts'. These texts are like very old written records from the Shang Dynasty. So, the old writings were correct about what was inside the tomb. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE. This means the statement is correct based on the information in the passage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage states that the things found inside Fu Hao's tomb, called 'grave goods' (like jade, bone, and bronze objects), matched what was written in old texts. The passage uses the word 'confirmed' to show that the written records were accurate about these items when the tomb was discovered. |
| Q15 | FALSE | Below the corpse was a small pit holding the remains of six sacrificial dogs and along the edge lay the skeletons of human slaves, evidence of human sacrifice | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that in the tomb, next to the main body, there was a small hole with bones of six dogs offered as a sacrifice. Also, at the sides, there were bones of people who were slaves, showing that people were killed as part of a ritual or offering. Answer Explanation: The answer 'FALSE' means that the statement is not true based on the information in the passage. The passage does not say the skeletons were from soldiers killed in war. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'FALSE' because the passage describes the human skeletons found in the Anyang tomb, specifically the 'Tomb of Fu Hao' which is located near modern-day 'Anyang,' as those of 'human slaves' who were part of 'human sacrifice.' The passage does not state that these skeletons belonged to soldiers who died in battle. Therefore, the statement contradicts the information provided. |
| Q16 | TRUE | The terracotta soldiers were accidentally discovered when a group of local farmers was digging a well during a drought around 1.6 km (1 mile) east of the Qin Emperor's tomb around at Mount Li (Lishan), a region riddled with underground springs and watercourses | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that local farmers found the terracotta soldiers by accident. They were digging a well in an area close to the Qin Emperor's tomb when they made this discovery. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'TRUE', means that the statement is correct according to the passage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage clearly states how the Terracotta Army was found. It says that people who lived near the area, specifically 'local farmers', found the army 'accidentally' while they were digging a well. This matches the idea of it being discovered 'by chance' by 'people who lived nearby'. |
| Q17 | NOT GIVEN | In contrast, the burial of Tutankhamun yielded six complete but dismantled chariots of unparalleled richness and sophistication. Each was designed for two people (90 cm long) and had its axle sawn through to enable it to be brought along the narrow corridor into the tomb | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the Qin Emperor's tomb was a 'city-size' collection, meaning it was very big, like a whole city. For Tutankhamun's tomb, it only says that chariots had to be cut so they could fit through a 'narrow corridor' to get inside. This tells us about the entrance to his tomb, but not how big the entire tomb was. The passage does not give enough information to compare the total size of the two tombs. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the passage does not tell us if the tomb of King Tutankhamun was bigger or smaller than the tomb of the Qin Emperor. We don't have enough information to say true or false. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage describes the Qin Emperor's tomb as very large, calling it a 'sprawling, city-size collection of underground caverns'. However, when it talks about Tutankhamun's tomb, it only mentions that chariots had to be cut apart to fit through a 'narrow corridor into the tomb'. The passage never gives any specific information about the *overall size* or dimensions of Tutankhamun's tomb, so we cannot compare its size to the Qin Emperor's tomb. |
| Q18 | elm | Wheels were constructed from a variety of woods: elm provided the hub, rose-wood the spokes and oak the felloes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that chariot wheels were built using different types of wood. It directly mentions that a wood from an 'elm' tree was used to make the 'hub', which is the center part of the wheel. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'elm', means a type of tree. The center part of the wheel, called the hub, was made from this kind of wood. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'elm' because the passage clearly states which type of wood was used for the hub of ancient Chinese chariots. It says that 'elm provided the hub', indicating that the wood from an elm tree was used to make this central part of the wheel. |
| Q19 | lubricating oil | The hub was drilled through to form an empty space into which the tempered axle was fitted, the whole being covered with leather to retain lubricating oil | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the middle part of the wheel (the hub) had a hole for the axle. This axle and hub were wrapped in leather. The reason for the leather was to keep the 'lubricating oil' inside, so the axle could move easily. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'lubricating oil,' means a special kind of oil that makes things move smoothly and helps parts slide past each other without rubbing too much. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'lubricating oil' because the passage states that the hub of the wheel was drilled to hold the axle, and this whole part was covered with leather. The purpose of this leather covering, as directly mentioned, was 'to retain lubricating oil.' This tells us the leather kept the oil from leaking out, which would help the axle move smoothly. |
| Q20 | 18 to 32 | Though the number of spokes varied, a wheel by the fourth century BC usually had eighteen to thirty-two of them | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the amount of spokes on a wheel was not always the same, but normally, from the fourth century BC, a wheel had a quantity between 18 and 32 spokes. Answer Explanation: The answer, '18 to 32', means that a wheel often had between 18 and 32 thin pieces of wood that connect the middle part to the outside rim. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is '18 to 32' because the passage states that the 'number of spokes' varied, but a wheel usually had 'eighteen to thirty-two of them' by a certain time. This tells us the typical range for how many spokes were on a wheel. |
| Q21 | dish / flat cone | Dishing refers to the dish-like shape of an advanced wooden wheel, which looks rather like a flat cone | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a special part of the old wooden wheel, called 'dishing,' made it shaped like a plate or a cone that is not tall but flat. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the wheel was shaped like a plate or a cone that has been pressed down flat. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "dish/flat cone" because the passage explicitly describes the shape of the ancient Chinese wheel. It mentions a feature called 'dishing' and then explains that this looks like a 'dish-like shape' and also 'looks rather like a flat cone'. Both terms accurately describe the wheel's unique form. |
| Q22 | struts | On occasion they chose to strengthen a dished wheel with a pair of struts running from rim to rim on each of the hub | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that sometimes, people would add two 'struts' to a 'dished wheel' (a wheel shaped like a flat cone) to make it more robust. These 'struts' went from one edge of the wheel to the other. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'struts'. This word describes the two pieces that were used to make the wheel stronger. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'struts' because the passage explicitly states that a 'pair of struts' was used to 'strengthen a dished wheel'. The text explains how these parts added strength to the wheel's construction, fitting the task's question about what was used to strengthen the wheel. |
| Q23 | bronze | Leather wrapped up the edge of the wheel aimed to retain bronze | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the edge, or outer part, of the wheel was covered with leather. This leather covering was put there to hold the 'bronze' securely in place. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'bronze', refers to a type of metal. The leather on the wheel's edge helped to keep this metal in place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'bronze' because the passage explicitly states that leather was used to wrap the edge of the wheel with the specific purpose of holding 'bronze'. This information can be found in the fourth paragraph when describing the construction of ancient Chinese wheels. |
| Q24 | neck | Because the shafts curved upwards, and the harness pressed against a horse's shoulders, not his neck, the shaft chariot was incredibly efficient | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that with the new chariot design, the part that holds the horse (the harness) pushed on the horse's 'shoulders' but 'not his neck'. This meant the horse's 'neck' was free from the pressure, which made the chariot work very well. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'neck'. This is a part of the horse's body. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'neck' because the passage explains that a new design of chariot, called the shaft chariot, had a harness that pressed against the horse's shoulders instead of its neck. This change made the chariot work much better. The word 'neck' tells us which body part was no longer under pressure from the harness. |
| Q25 | sand | The speed of the chariot which was tested on the sand was quite fast | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that they measured how fast the chariot could travel, and it performed well when it was tested on 'sand'. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'sand'. This means the people studying the old Chinese chariots checked how fast they could go on a sandy road, like a beach or desert. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'sand' because the passage directly states the surface on which the chariot's speed was tested. It mentions, 'The speed of the chariot which was tested on the sand was quite fast.' The keyword 'tested' helps identify the relevant information about measuring speed, and 'sand' identifies the specific road surface. |
| Q26 | tomb complex | Qin Shi Huang was buried in the most opulent tomb complex ever constructed in China, a sprawling, city-size collection of underground caverns containing everything the emperor would need for the afterlife | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Qin Shi Huang was buried in a 'tomb complex', which was very rich and big, like a city under the ground. It had many rooms and things for him to use after he died. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'tomb complex,' means a big group of graves or burial sites, usually for important people like kings, all found together in one place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'tomb complex' because the passage clearly states that Emperor Qin Shi Huang was buried in a 'tomb complex'. It describes this as a very fancy and large place built underground, like a small city, with everything the emperor would need in the afterlife. So, the 'tomb complex' was the main part of his afterlife palace where he was laid to rest. |