New Zealand’s Early Crafts And Traditions - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 Academic Reading Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–13
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer questions 1-13.
New Zealand’s early crafts and traditions
The first groups of people to discover New Zealand come from Polynesia. Exactly when these explorers arrived has often been a matter of debate, but today the general understanding is that it was during the 13th century that their canoes eventually landed on New Zealand’s shores. In some ways the new country must have seemed like an ideal place to settle: the land was fertile, and thick forests provided firewood, shelter and building materials. Still, life would have been challenging for the different Polynesian tribes, who had to adapt to a new environment. The tribes only began to refer themselves as Māori, meaning ‘ordinary people’, when Europeans in search of new opportunities began arriving in the 18th century. To the Maori, of course, the European settlers and sailors were not ‘ordinary’, but very strange.
It was not only a knowledge of canoe-building and navigation that the Polynesians brought to New Zealand. They were also skilled craftsmen. There is archaeological evidence that the tools they produced were of high quality and would have enabled tribes to plant and harvest crops. Craftsmen were also occupied with making weapons such as knives and axes, which were used for both construction and fighting. Interestingly, some crafts that had once been popular in Polynesian islands were no longer done in New Zealand, although researches are unsure why. Pottery is an example of this, despite that fact the clay needed to make pots and bowls could easily be found in the country.
The Maori word whakairo can be translated as ‘decorative work’ – this can refer to bone, wood and greenstone carving. Although Maori carvers were influenced by their Polynesian heritage, they developed their own style, including the curved patterns and spirals inspired by New Zealand plants. The same term can also apply to weaving; the crafting of, for example, woven baskets and mats all required knowledge and skill. Carving greenstone, or pounamu as it is called in Maori, was a long process, requiring great patience. Further, because of this mineral’s rarity, any greenstone object, such as a piece of jewellery or cutting blade, was a prized possession. For that reason, it was the few people of high status rather than low-ranking members of a tribe who would possess such objects.
As New Zealand had no native mammals except for bats, dolphins and whales, Maori largely had to depend on plants to provide material for their clothing, including their cloaks. Weavers experimented with the inner bark of the houhere, the lacebark tree, but found it unsuitable. But the dried-out leaves and fibres of the flax plant provided a solution. Once a cloak had been woven from flax, it could be decorated. Borders might be dyed black or red, for example. In the case of superior ones made for chiefs or the more important members of a tribe, feathers from kiwi, pigeons or other native birds might be attached. All flax cloaks were rectangular in shape, so had no sleeves, and neither was a hood a feature of this garment. Short cloaks were fastened around a person’s neck, and came only to the waist. Pins made of bone, wood or greenstone allowed longer cloaks to be secured at the shoulder; these were a type that were often used for ceremonial occasions. Of course, the construction of cloaks was influenced by the plant material available to Maori weavers. This meant that cloaks were loose-fitting, and while they protected wearers from New Zealand’s strong sunshine, they were not useful during the winter months. A cloak made from fur or wool could provide insulation from the cold, but not so a cloak made of flax.
The warriors of a tribe required a different kind of cloak to help protect them. To create these special cloaks, the tough fibres of the mountain cabbage tree were used instead. It is not clear to researchers what the entire process involved, but they believe the fibres were left to soak in water over a period of time in order to soften them and make them easier to weave together. Later, once the whole cloak had been constructed, it would be dyed black. To do this, Maori weaves covered it in a special kind of mud they had collected from riverbeds. This was rich in iron due to New Zealand’s volcanic landscape. The particular advantage of these cloaks was that the tough cabbage tree fibres they were woven from could reduce the impact of spear tips during a fight with enemy tribes. It is fortunate that some cloaks from the 1800s still survive and can provide us with further insight into the materials and construction techniques that Maori craftsmen used.
Questions
Questions 1–6 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
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 7–13 Table Completion
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
| Maori cloaks | ||
|---|---|---|
| flax cloaks | warrior cloaks | |
| methods of construction | Maori made flax cloaks by
- weaving leaves and fibres - sometimes adding 7 to the better cloaks |
Weavers had to use 8 to make cabbage tree fibres less stiff |
| appearance | Flax cloaks were
- rectangular in shape - designed without a 9 - tied at either the wearer's neck or their 10 |
Mud containing 11 was used to make the cloaks look black |
| good/bad points | Flax cloaks offered no 12 during winter. | 13 could not easily go through the cloaks tough fibres |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | TRUE | Exactly when these explorers arrived has often been a matter of debate, but today the general understanding is that it was during the 13th century that their canoes eventually landed on New Zealand’s shores | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that researchers used to disagree about the date people arrived, but now most people agree that it happened during the 13th century. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement matches what the writer says in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text explains that while people used to argue about when travelers first arrived, the current "general understanding" is that they arrived in the 13th century. In the question, the phrase "widely thought" has the same meaning as "general understanding," and "humans reached" refers to when the explorers' "canoes eventually landed." |
| Q2 | NOT GIVEN | The tribes only began to refer themselves as Māori, meaning ‘ordinary people’, when Europeans in search of new opportunities began arriving in the 18th century | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Europeans came to New Zealand looking for new chances or jobs, but it does not give details about what those chances were, such as trading. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say whether the first Europeans wanted to trade with the Māori or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage only mentions that Europeans came to New Zealand because they were looking for 'new opportunities'. While 'new opportunities' could include trading, the text never specifically mentions the word 'trade' or says that the Europeans wanted to buy and sell things with the Māori. Because the information is missing, we cannot say if the statement is true or false. |
| Q3 | NOT GIVEN | There is archaeological evidence that the tools they produced were of high quality and would have enabled tribes to plant and harvest crops. Craftsmen were also occupied with making weapons such as knives and axes, which were used for both construction and fighting | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that craftsmen made high-quality tools for farming and also made weapons for building and fighting, but it never mentions if a person was restricted to doing only one of these tasks. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say if a person had to choose between making tools or making weapons, or if they could do both. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the passage mentions that craftsmen made tools (for farming) and weapons (like knives and axes), it does not provide details on how the work was divided. It does not state that a member was limited to "either" tool-making "or" weapon-making. Since the text doesn't mention if people had to pick just one of these jobs or if they were the only jobs members were responsible for, the information is missing. |
| Q4 | FALSE | Interestingly, some crafts that had once been popular in Polynesian islands were no longer done in New Zealand, although researches are unsure why. Pottery is an example of this, despite that fact the clay needed to make pots and bowls could easily be found in the country | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that some skills that people used to have were not used in New Zealand anymore. It mentions pottery as a specific example of a craft that people did not do in New Zealand, even though they could find the clay to do it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is incorrect because the Maori did not make pottery in New Zealand. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage states that while making pottery was a common activity in the islands where the Maori came from, they stopped doing it after they arrived in New Zealand. The text explains that even though the clay required for pottery was available in New Zealand, this specific craft was no longer practiced. Therefore, the claim that they once practiced pottery-making in New Zealand is the opposite of what the text says. |
| Q5 | TRUE | The Maori word whakairo can be translated as ‘decorative work’ – this can refer to bone, wood and greenstone carving The same term can also apply to weaving; the crafting of, for example, woven baskets and mats all required knowledge and skill |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the word "whakairo" means "decorative work." It then says that people use this same word when they talk about weaving things like baskets and mats. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the text says that the word for 'decorative work' is also used to describe making things like baskets and mats by weaving. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explains that the Maori word whakairo means ‘decorative work’. It then states that this same term (decorative work) is also used for weaving, specifically mentioning the creation of items like woven baskets and mats. Therefore, the activity of weaving these items was categorized under the term for decorative work. |
| Q6 | FALSE | For that reason, it was the few people of high status rather than low-ranking members of a tribe who would possess such objects | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that because greenstone was rare, only a small number of important people in the tribe owned those objects, while the regular members did not. Answer Explanation: The answer is false because greenstone jewellery was not owned by every person in a tribe, but only by a small number of important leaders. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that greenstone (pounamu) was very rare and hard to make into objects. Because it was so special, only people with a "high status" (important people) owned these items. The text clearly states that "low-ranking members" (ordinary people) did not have them, which contradicts the idea that everyone wore them. |
| Q7 | feathers | In the case of superior ones made for chiefs or the more important members of a tribe, feathers from kiwi, pigeons or other native birds might be attached | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that for high-quality cloaks used by leaders or important people, they would put feathers from local birds onto the garment to decorate it. Answer Explanation: The answer is the plural word for the soft, light things that cover a bird's body. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'feathers' because the text explains that while standard cloaks were made of flax, 'superior' (meaning better or of higher quality) cloaks made for important people like chiefs would have bird feathers 'attached' (meaning added) to them. |
| Q8 | hood | All flax cloaks were rectangular in shape, so had no sleeves, and neither was a hood a feature of this garment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that flax cloaks were made in a simple rectangle shape. Because of this shape, they did not have sleeves for the arms or a hood to cover the head. Answer Explanation: The answer "hood" refers to the part of a piece of clothing that a person can use to cover their head and neck. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "hood" because the text describes the specific appearance and structure of flax cloaks. It states that these cloaks were shaped like rectangles and did not include certain features like arm parts (sleeves) or a head covering (hood). The text explicitly says that a hood was not a "feature" of the garment, meaning it was designed without one. |
| Q9 | shoulder | Pins made of bone, wood or greenstone allowed longer cloaks to be secured at the shoulder; these were a type that were often used for ceremonial occasions | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people used special pins to hold long cloaks on their bodies at the shoulder. Answer Explanation: The answer "shoulder" refers to the part of the human body between the arm and the neck where longer Maori cloaks were fastened. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "shoulder" because the text explains how different types of cloaks were worn. While short cloaks were fastened around the neck, longer ones were kept in place at the shoulder using pins made from bone, wood, or greenstone. In the summary notes, the word "tied" is used to represent how these clothes were attached to the body, and the text uses the synonym "secured" to describe the location on the shoulder. |
| Q10 | insulation | A cloak made from fur or wool could provide insulation from the cold, but not so a cloak made of flax | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that materials like fur or wool help people stay warm, but a cloak made from the flax plant cannot do this. Answer Explanation: The answer 'insulation' refers to the warmth provided by clothing to keep the body's heat from escaping in cold weather. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'insulation' because the passage explains that flax cloaks were not effective in cold weather. It points out that while materials like fur or wool keep a person warm, a cloak made from the flax plant does not provide insulation. |
| Q11 | water | but they believe the fibres were left to soak in water over a period of time in order to soften them and make them easier to weave together | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that researchers think the plant fibers were put into water for a while. Doing this made the hard fibers soft, which made it possible to turn them into clothing. Answer Explanation: The answer "water" is the clear liquid that the people used to make the hard parts of the plant soft. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "water" because the passage describes how Maori people used the cabbage tree's strong fibers to make clothing for warriors. Since these fibers were naturally tough, they had to be "softened" so they could be woven together. The text explicitly states that these fibers were soaked in "water" to achieve this. In the question, the word "stiff" is used, which is the opposite of "soften." |
| Q12 | iron | To do this, Maori weaves covered it in a special kind of mud they had collected from riverbeds. This was rich in iron due to New Zealand’s volcanic landscape | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that to make the cloaks black, the workers put a special mud on them. This mud had a lot of iron in it because the land had volcanoes. Answer Explanation: The answer "iron" is a metal or mineral found in the ground that Maori people used to turn their warrior cloaks into a dark color. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "iron" because the passage explains the steps taken to change the appearance of warrior cloaks. It states that these cloaks were dyed black using mud from riverbeds. The text then clarifies that this specific mud was "rich in iron," meaning it contained a large amount of this mineral, which came from the volcanic soil of the area. |
| Q13 | spear tips | The particular advantage of these cloaks was that the tough cabbage tree fibres they were woven from could reduce the impact of spear tips during a fight with enemy tribes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these clothes were useful because the strong plant parts they were made of could stop sharp weapons from hurting the warriors when they fought other groups. Answer Explanation: The answer "spear tips" refers to the sharp, pointed ends of long wooden weapons (spears) that people used to hit others in a battle. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the text describes a special kind of cloak used by warriors. These cloaks were made from the "tough" (strong) fibres of the mountain cabbage tree. The passage says that because these fibres were so strong, they could "reduce the impact" of sharp weapons during a fight. In the notes, this matches the idea that the sharp ends of spears ("spear tips") could not easily pierce or go through the material. |