How Archaeologists Made Some Exciting Discoveries In Southeast Turkey - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 28–40
Reading Passage
Read the text and answer Questions 28–40.
How archaeologists made some exciting discoveries in southeast Turkey
A It's a sad fact of archaeological life that we can often only find things when they're about to be lost forever. Construction of the Ilisu Dam, on the river Tigris in southeast Turkey, is now complete, and the flooding of 300 km² of land behind it has begun. The dam will provide much needed water and electricity to the local region, but it will flood up to 500 archaeological sites. However, its construction has also provided a great opportunity to learn about the past of this region, because when the dam was proposed in the early 1990s, the government invited teams of local and international archaeologists to work in the Tigris valley upstream of Ilisu to recover as much as they could before the dam was completed. The result was a series of intensive survey projects, followed by more than twenty excavations, which amazingly came across places with archaeological remains ranging from deep prehistory to the Ottoman period. The area to be flooded is now the best-studied archaeological landscape in eastern Turkey.
B One of the biggest Ilisu Dam salvage excavations was at the site of Ziyaret Tepe, an imposing mound rising 22 metres above the plain, within which lies the ancient Assyrian city of Tušhan.
Tušhan was a provincial centre which guarded the northern border of the mighty Assyrian Empire for almost 300 years (882–611 BCE). It never approached the grandeur of the Assyrian capital Nineveh, but it was part of the Assyrian network of imperial control which imposed authority over conquered regions. Tušhan was home not just to Assyrian settlers, but to deportees from all over the empire, who had been uprooted from their homelands as a further means of subjugation.
C Archaeological work at Ziyaret Tepe began in 1997 and ran for eighteen years. The results of all those long hot summers in the field are now finally ready to be presented, with the publication of the project's first book. It provides the most complete picture of an Assyrian imperial town yet known. It includes a mass of information on the governor's palace at Tušhan, which sat on the eastern side of the high mound. It was built under King Ashurnasirpal II, who boasted about its construction in an inscription found not far away. Unlike Ashurnasirpal's magnificent palace at Nimrud, Tušhan's provincial palace had no raised stone carvings of historical figures. Instead, its white plastered walls were decorated with finely painted geometric patterns in blue, red, orange and black. The reception suite was equipped with a trackway for a moveable heating brazier and with neatly tiled bathrooms, giving it a touch of luxury.
The remains of some of the governors themselves may have been found. Under the paving of the palace, five intact burials of human ashes were excavated. Whether or not these were the governors of Tušhan, they were certainly important people, whose bodies had been burnt on beds with ivory fittings, and provided with bronze bowls, lamps and ornaments. Intriguingly, cremation was not an Assyrian practice and these burials suggest that Tušhan's ruling elite had either adopted local customs, or were not themselves Assyrians.
D To the south of the high mound, Tušhan had a substantial lower town and this is where the real work of the city took place. Over many seasons, the excavation team uncovered a series of sizeable structures, all set around large courtyards paved with beautiful black and white mosaics made of thousands of small, plain black or white pebbles collected from local river beds. Most were high-status homes but one had more complex functions. The entrance chamber to this building yielded hundreds of tiny tokens in a range of forms standing for different numbers and commodities. These are thought to have been used for keeping records as merchandise and people passed in and out. The administrative function of the building was confirmed when an archive of 28 tablets with cuneiform writing was found. These include lists of different personnel, but most concern the movement of barley. These transactions are visible throughout the building in the form of standardised weights and huge jars to keep it in. This building was the commercial and administrative centre of Tušhan.
E The frontier character of the city, which stood on the border with hostile Shubria, is clear from the massive fortifications which surrounded both the high mound and the lower town. The mudbrick city wall was two kilometres long and almost three metres thick, with a substantial ditch in front of it. Despite these precautions, Tušhan fell with the rest of the Assyrian Empire. The imperial capital at Nineveh fell after a dramatic siege in 612 BCE, after which the remaining Assyrian forces retreated steadily north-westward towards the site of the empire's last stand at the city of Harran. In the path of the army of Medes and Babylonians as they marched up the Tigris river lay Tušhan.
F Now Tušhan faces another threat, as the water from the Ilisu Dam advances along the same route as that used by the Medes and Babylonians 2,600 years ago. It remains to be seen to what extent the site will eventually be flooded, but even though its physical remains may be lost, along with the other Ilisu sites, there is some consolation in the fact that a rich record of the town of Tušhan, some of its history, its people and way of life, is now preserved in the archives and publications of the Ziyaret Tepe project.
Questions
Questions 28–33 Matching Headings
The text has six sections, A-F.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-viii.
i. Defences which proved inadequate
ii. Why Tušhan's governors were so important
iii. An approaching force of a different type
iv. A detailed description of one building on the site
v. An important link in the chain of defences
vi. How domestic buildings in the lower town were furnished
vii. The main reason for the archaeological investigations
viii. Where the trade deals were done
Questions 34–37 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from Section D of the text for each answer.
Tušhan's lower town
Below the mound where the governor's palace stood was a large lower town. Archaeologists found some houses of considerable size there, which had spacious courtyards in the middle. These had attractively patterned 34 on the floors.
Archaeologists discovered a large number of differently shaped artefacts in one of the buildings. They discovered a large number of very small 35, which represented a variety of goods and quantities. They were probably adopted by the townspeople to maintain 36 of goods, as well as men and women, that entered and left the town. Later, a number of inscribed tablets were discovered, which mostly recorded the transport of 37. This trade was also evident in the remains of some enormous jars that were found, which had been used for storage.
Questions 38–40 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q28 | vii | However, its construction has also provided a great opportunity to learn about the past of this region, because when the dam was proposed in the early 1990s, the government invited teams of local and international archaeologists to work in the Tigris valley upstream of Ilisu to recover as much as they could before the dam was completed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that building the dam was a special chance to find out about the past. Because the dam was going to be built, the government asked groups of archaeologists, both from Turkey and other countries, to dig and find as many old things as possible before the area was covered by water. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'vii', which means 'The main reason for the archaeological investigations'. This heading tells us why the old sites were studied by people who dig up and learn about the past. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer explains the main purpose of the archaeological work described in Section A. The passage states that the construction of the Ilisu Dam would flood many old sites, but it also created a 'great opportunity' for archaeologists to 'recover as much as they could before the dam was completed'. This clearly indicates that the dam construction was the primary reason, or main reason, for these investigations. |
| Q29 | v | Tušhan was a provincial centre which guarded the northern border of the mighty Assyrian Empire for almost 300 years (882–611 BCE) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Tušhan was a main town that kept watch over and protected the northern edge of the strong Assyrian Empire for almost 300 years. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'An important link in the chain of defences,' means that Tušhan was a very important place that helped protect the Assyrian Empire. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer 'v. An important link in the chain of defences' is right because Section B clearly states Tušhan's role. It was a 'provincial centre' that 'guarded the northern border of the mighty Assyrian Empire.' This means it was a crucial part of the empire's protection strategy, acting as a defense point to keep the border safe for nearly 300 years. The keywords 'guarded' and 'border' show its defensive importance. |
| Q30 | iv | It includes a mass of information on the governor's palace at Tušhan, which sat on the eastern side of the high mound. It was built under King Ashurnasirpal II, who boasted about its construction in an inscription found not far away. Unlike Ashurnasirpal's magnificent palace at Nimrud, Tušhan's provincial palace had no raised stone carvings of historical figures. Instead, its white plastered walls were decorated with finely painted geometric patterns in blue, red, orange and black. The reception suite was equipped with a trackway for a moveable heating brazier and with neatly tiled bathrooms, giving it a touch of luxury | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage talks about a lot of details regarding the 'governor's palace' in Tušhan. It mentions who built it, how it looked inside with decorated walls, and special rooms like a reception area with good bathrooms and a movable heater, showing it was a fancy place. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Section C gives a very clear and full picture of one specific building found at the old city site. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'iv. A detailed description of one building on the site' because Section C focuses almost entirely on describing the 'governor's palace at Tušhan'. It explains who built it, what its walls looked like, and what features it had inside, such as bathrooms and a heating brazier. It even mentions important burials found under its floors, all connected to this particular building. |
| Q31 | viii | This building was the commercial and administrative centre of Tušhan | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this particular building was the main place for business and for managing the city's affairs, like buying, selling, and keeping records of goods. Answer Explanation: The answer, section D, describes the place where buying and selling activities, or 'trade deals,' happened in the city of Tušhan. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'viii. Where the trade deals were done' because Section D focuses on a specific building in the lower town. The passage explains that this building held records of 'commodities' and 'merchandise,' and tracked 'transactions' involving goods like 'barley.' It also states clearly at the end that this building was the 'commercial and administrative centre' of the city. These keywords strongly indicate that it was the place where trade and business activities took place. |
| Q32 | i | The frontier character of the city, which stood on the border with hostile Shubria, is clear from the massive fortifications which surrounded both the high mound and the lower town. The mudbrick city wall was two kilometres long and almost three metres thick, with a substantial ditch in front of it. Despite these precautions, Tušhan fell with the rest of the Assyrian Empire | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the city had very big walls and a deep trench ('substantial ditch') to protect itself because it was near an enemy. But even with these strong protections ('Despite these precautions'), the city of Tušhan was still defeated and captured ('fell'). Answer Explanation: The answer means that the protective walls and barriers of the city were not strong enough to save it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'i. Defences which proved inadequate' because Section E talks about the city's strong 'massive fortifications' like its 'mudbrick city wall' and a 'substantial ditch'. However, the passage also clearly states that 'Despite these precautions, Tušhan fell with the rest of the Assyrian Empire,' meaning its defenses were ultimately not enough to protect it from attack. |
| Q33 | iii | Now Tušhan faces another threat, as the water from the Ilisu Dam advances along the same route as that used by the Medes and Babylonians 2,600 years ago | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the city of Tušhan is now in danger again. This new danger is the water from the big Ilisu Dam flooding the land. This water is moving in the same way that old armies from the Medes and Babylonians moved a very long time ago when they attacked. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Section F talks about a new kind of danger coming towards the old city of Tušhan, which is different from dangers it faced before. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'iii. An approaching force of a different type' because Section F describes a new problem for Tušhan. It states that the city now faces 'another threat' which is 'the water from the Ilisu Dam advances'. This is a 'different type' of 'force' compared to the armies (Medes and Babylonians) that previously attacked the city, as mentioned in the section and the previous Section E. The section focuses on the dam's water flooding the site, which is a new and different kind of approaching danger. |
| Q34 | mosaics | Over many seasons, the excavation team uncovered a series of sizeable structures, all set around large courtyards paved with beautiful black and white mosaics made of thousands of small, plain black or white pebbles collected from local river beds | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the buildings had large open spaces called courtyards, and their floors were covered with 'beautiful black and white mosaics'. These mosaics were made from many tiny black and white stones found in local rivers, creating attractive patterns. Answer Explanation: The answer 'mosaics' means pictures or patterns made by putting together many small pieces of colored stone, glass, or other materials. Here, it refers to the decoration on the floors. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'mosaics' because the passage in Section D explicitly describes the courtyards in Tušhan's lower town as being 'paved with beautiful black and white mosaics'. This directly matches the summary's description of 'attractively patterned' elements 'on the floors' of the houses. |
| Q35 | tokens | The entrance chamber to this building yielded hundreds of tiny tokens in a range of forms standing for different numbers and commodities | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that inside one part of a building, archaeologists found many very small "tokens." These tiny objects had different shapes, and they were used to show different amounts of things and different types of goods. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'tokens'. These are small things, like plastic coins or pieces, that were used to represent other things or amounts. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'tokens' because the passage states that archaeologists found many small items called 'tokens'. These 'tokens' were used to show different 'numbers and commodities' (which means different amounts and types of goods), just as the summary indicates that the discovered items 'represented a variety of goods and quantities'. |
| Q36 | records | These are thought to have been used for keeping records as merchandise and people passed in and out | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that small items were probably used to write down or keep info (records) about things being bought and sold (merchandise) and people going into and out of a place. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'records,' means written or stored information about something. In this case, it's about keeping track of things and people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'records' because the passage in section D states that small tokens were used for 'keeping records' of merchandise (goods) and people entering and leaving the town. This directly matches the idea in the summary about maintaining information on goods and people moving through the town. |
| Q37 | barley | These include lists of different personnel, but most concern the movement of barley | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that old written tablets found there listed people, but mostly they were about taking 'barley' from one place to another. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'barley', is a type of grain, similar to wheat, used for food and drink. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'barley' because the passage states that inscribed tablets found in a building in Tušhan's lower town mainly recorded the movement of this grain. The question asks what was mostly 'recorded' or 'transported', and the passage directly links 'barley' to these records and its 'movement'. |
| Q38 | A | Tušhan was home not just to Assyrian settlers, but to deportees from all over the empire, who had been uprooted from their homelands as a further means of subjugation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Tušhan had Assyrian residents and also people who were forced to leave their own countries and move there. This was done to control these people, showing that the Assyrians had taken over their original lands and forced them to move to an area they now ruled. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the old city of Tušhan was built in an area that the Assyrian people had taken control of, likely through war. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the passage, which states that Tušhan was a part of the Assyrian Empire's system to control lands it had 'conquered'. The passage also mentions that people from other lands, called 'deportees', were moved to Tušhan as a way to keep them under 'subjugation', which means making them obey. This tells us the area was not originally Assyrian but became part of their empire after being taken over. |
| Q39 | B | Intriguingly, cremation was not an Assyrian practice and these burials suggest that Tušhan's ruling elite had either adopted local customs, or were not themselves Assyrians | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that burning bodies (cremation) was not a normal thing Assyrians did. So, these burials make experts think that the important leaders in Tušhan might have taken on local traditions, or that they were not Assyrians themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the dead people found under the palace might have been from other countries or cultures, not originally from Assyria. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage explains that the bodies found were cremated, meaning they were burned. The text specifically states that 'cremation was not an Assyrian practice'. This unusual finding led archaeologists to believe that the important people buried there, possibly governors, 'had either adopted local customs, or were not themselves Assyrians', suggesting they were foreigners or had different cultural backgrounds than typical Assyrians. This makes the burials significant. |
| Q40 | D | but even though its physical remains may be lost, along with the other Ilisu sites, there is some consolation in the fact that a rich record of the town of Tušhan, some of its history, its people and way of life, is now preserved in the archives and publications of the Ziyaret Tepe project | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the actual structures of Tušhan might be covered by water and disappear. But it's not all bad, because a lot of stories and information about Tušhan, its past, its people, and how they lived, are saved in books and records from the Ziyaret Tepe project. Answer Explanation: The answer means that written papers and books will likely be the only way to find out about the city of Tušhan, because the physical place itself might be lost. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Section F of the passage. It explains that the city of Tušhan is facing a new threat from the Ilisu Dam's rising water, which could cause its 'physical remains' to be 'lost'. However, the passage offers 'consolation' because a lot of information about Tušhan's 'history, its people and way of life, is now preserved in the archives and publications of the Ziyaret Tepe project'. This means that even if the actual site disappears, the recorded information (documents) will remain as the primary source. |