Cannibalism Reading Answers

Jul 5, 2024

Cannibalism Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Cannibalism Reading Answers have a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions, you have to choose the correct passage from the given statements . In the next section you have to fill in the blanks with appropriate answers.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as The Cannibalism Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Text Below and Answer Questions

Cannibalism

The term cannibalism means the eating of human flesh by human beings, and/or eating of animals by members of their own species. Cannibalism was derived from the Carib Indians, discovered by Christopher Columbus, of the West Indies. The Caribs were man-eaters, and the Spanish name for the tribe was Canibales, meaning bloodthirsty and cruel.
The practice of cannibalism reaches back into antiquity and has been found in many areas of the world. Evidence indicates that it may have been practiced as early as the Neolithic Period. The Greek historian Herodotus and other ancient writers gave accounts of various ancient people as being cannibals. Marco Polo reported tribes ranging from Tibet to Sumatra who practiced cannibalism. North American Indian tribes of the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico practiced cannibalism. Until recently the practice prevailed throughout much of central and western Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Sumatra, New Guinea, Polynesia, and remote portions of South America.
Cannibalism at times has had religious significance. This stems from the belief that the person who eats of the deceased person acquires the desired qualities or characteristics of that person, which resemble the theory of sympathetic magic; examples of this are seen in Attraction of Blood. Rituals were performed for many reasons including purification, pacification of gods, and ancestor worship. In a few
instances cannibalism has been practiced for just revenge. In other cases it was believed that the ghost of the enemy would be utterly destroyed when his body was eaten, thus leaving nothing in which his spirit could exist. Some examples of religious cannibalism are these. The Binderwurs of central India ate their sick and aged in the belief that the act was pleasing to their goddess Kali. In Mexico the Aztecs to
their deities sacrificed thousands of human victims annually. Following the sacrifices, the Aztec priest and people ate the bodies of the victims believing the acts brought them closer to their gods.
The charge of cannibalism is a common insult, and it is likely that some alleged cannibal groups have merely been victims of popular fear and misrepresentation. Widespread cannibalism is usually not found in state-level societies, which have the means to tax and control surplus labor. Nevertheless, one of the most famous cases of cannibalism is that of the Aztecs, who sacrificed their prisoners of war and undoubtedly ate some of them. According to available evidence, most authorities consider the partaking of human flesh almost always to be a ritual practice. A minority of anthropologists, however, believe cannibalism emerged as a cultural response to chronic protein shortages. In modern Western society, cannibalism is committed only by the deranged or by people who otherwise face death from starvation (see Donner Party), In contrast, various traditional cultures are known to have encouraged their members to eat part of their kinsmen's corpses out of respect for the deceased in a practice known as endo-cannibalism. For example, Foré women of New Guinea, who dispose of the dead, ritually ate their deceased relatives' brains. Some anthropologists believe that head-hunting evolved from cannibalism. Among a few peoples the head of the enemy is preserved and the rest of the body or selected parts of it are eaten; this may represent a connecting link between cannibalism and head-hunting. The term cannibalism is also used in zoology to describe species who prey upon their own kind, such as lions, crabs, ants, and some kinds of fish.
Cannibalism is nearly considered a taboo among Western cultures and the instances of it occurring are extremely rare. In the case of starvation it has occurred. Two notable cases are the first in America, the Donner Party caught crossing the Sierra Nevada N California during the winter of 1846-1847; and the second in Chile in 1972, sixteen members of a Uruguayan soccer team crashed in the Andres Mountains.
Some animals have been known to participate in cannibalism. Wolves are known to eat injured members of their packs. Rats and pigs have been observed eating the young of their species. Among insects it is well known that the female spider eats the male after m Il Larger mantes often eat smaller ones, and the female mantis devours the male.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 1-6

Reading passage 1 has six paragraphs, A-F.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-F.

Varying opinions regarding the practice of cannibalism.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“......According to available evidence, most authorities consider the partaking of human flesh almost always to be a ritual practice. A minority of anthropologists, however, believe cannibalism emerged as a cultural response to chronic protein shortages.........”
Keywords: opinions, practice
Keyword Location: para D
Explanation: Para D discusses different perspectives on cannibalism, mentioning that most authorities consider it a ritual practice while a minority believe it emerged due to protein shortages. This shows varying opinions on the practice of cannibalism.

Cannibalism and its relation to religion.

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“......Cannibalism at times has had religious significance. This stems from the belief that the person who eats of the deceased person acquires the desired qualities or characteristics of that person.........”
Keywords: cannibalism, religion
Keyword Location: para D
Explanation: Para D talks about how cannibalism has religious significance in some cultures, describing rituals where eating parts of deceased individuals were believed to transfer their qualities or appease gods. This highlights the religious connection to cannibalism.

The origin of the term 'cannibalism'.

Answer: A
Supporting statement:“.......Cannibalism was derived from the Carib Indians, discovered by Christopher Columbus, of the West Indies. The Caribs were man-eaters, and the Spanish name for the tribe was Canibales,
meaning bloodthirsty and cruel........”
Keywords: origin, term
Keyword Location: para A
Explanation: Para A explains that the term "cannibalism" comes from the Spanish name "Cannibals," which refers to the Carib Indians known for their man-eating practices. This provides the origin of the term.

Widespread practice of cannibalism.

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“........The practice of cannibalism reaches back into antiquity and has been found in many areas of the world. Evidence indicates that it may have been practiced as early as the Neolithic Period.......”
Keywords: practice, cannibalism
Keyword Location: para B
Explanation: Para B outlines the historical and geographical prevalence of cannibalism, mentioning its practice in various parts of the world from ancient times to more recent periods. This shows the widespread occurrence of cannibalism.

Examples of animals that eat fellow animals.

Answer: F
Supporting statement:“.......Some animals have been known to participate in cannibalism. Wolves are known to eat injured members of their packs. Rats and pigs have been observed eating the young of their species........”
Keywords: animals, eat
Keyword Location: para F
Explanation: Para F describes instances of cannibalism among animals, providing examples such as wolves, rats, pigs, spiders, and mantises. It specifically addresses animal cannibalism.

Examples of cannibalism in the last few centuries.

Answer: E
Supporting statement:“.......Cannibalism is nearly considered a taboo among Western cultures and the instances of it occurring are extremely rare. In the case of starvation it has occurred........”
Keywords: examples, cannibalism
Keyword Location: para E
Explanation: Para E highlights rare instances of cannibalism in recent history, such as the Donner Party and the Uruguayan soccer team. These examples from the last few centuries show that cannibalism still occurred under extreme conditions.

Questions 7-13

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each.

The word 'cannibalism' has its origin from a (7)..........word

Answer: SPANISH
Supporting statement:“.......Cannibalism was derived from the Carib Indians, discovered by Christopher Columbus, of the West Indies. The Caribs were man-eaters, and the Spanish name for the tribe was Canibales,
meaning bloodthirsty and cruel.........”
Keywords: word, Spanish
Keyword Location: para A
Explanation: Para A states that "the Spanish name for the tribe was Canibales," indicating that the term 'cannibalism' originates from a Spanish word.

which means (8).......

Answer: BLOODTHIRSTY AND CRUEL
Supporting statement:“.......The Caribs were man-eaters, and the Spanish name for the tribe was Canibales, meaning bloodthirsty and cruel........”
Keywords: meaning, bloodthirsty
Keyword Location: para A
Explanation:

This practice dates back to (9)...

Answer: ANTIQUITY / NEOLITHIC PERIOD
Supporting statement:“.......The practice of cannibalism reaches back into antiquity and has been found in many areas of the world. Evidence indicates that it may have been practiced as early as the Neolithic Period........”
Keywords: practice, dates
Keyword Location: para B
Explanation: Para A explains that "Canibales" means "bloodthirsty and cruel," providing the meaning of the Spanish term from which 'cannibalism' is derived.

Cannibalism prevailed throughout much of the world until recently. Sometimes, cannibalism arises from the misconception that by eating the body parts of the deceased, one can gain that person's (10)...

Answer: DESIRED QUALITIES
Supporting statement:“......This stems from the belief that the person who eats of the deceased person acquires the desired qualities or characteristics of that person.........”
Keywords: gain, desired
Keyword Location: para C
Explanation: Para C explains that "the person who eats of the deceased person acquires the desired qualities or characteristics of that person," showing the belief behind the practice.

In other cases it was believed that the ghost of the enemy would be utterly (11).....

Answer: DESTROYED
Supporting statement:“......In other cases it was believed that the ghost of the enemy would be utterly destroyed when his body was eaten, thus leaving nothing in which his spirit could exist.........”
Keywords: ghost, utterly
Keyword Location: para C
Explanation: Para C also mentions that "the ghost of the enemy would be utterly destroyed when his body was eaten," highlighting another belief associated with cannibalism.

when his body was eaten, thus leaving nothing in which his (12)........

Answer: GHOST // SPIRIT
Supporting statement:“........In other cases it was believed that the ghost of the enemy would be utterly destroyed when his body was eaten, thus leaving nothing in which his spirit could exist.......”
Keywords: nothing, spirit
Keyword Location: para C
Explanation: Para C states that eating the body leaves "nothing in which his spirit could exist," emphasizing the belief in destroying the enemy's spirit.

could exist. Though it is undoubtedly proved that ancient societies practiced cannibalism, the allegation of cannibalism is considered as a (13)........in the modern world.

Answer: COMMON INSULT
Supporting statement:“......The charge of cannibalism is a common insult, and it is likely that some alleged cannibal groups have merely been victims of popular fear and misrepresentation..........”
Keywords: allegation, common
Keyword Location: para D
Explanation: Para D describes how "the charge of cannibalism is a common insult," suggesting that accusing someone of cannibalism is often used as an insult, despite historical evidence of the practice.

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