The Lost City Reading Answers

Dec 13, 2022

The Lost City Reading Answers has 13 questions that need to be answered in 20 minutes. The Lost City Reading Answers comprises three types of questions- match the paragraph with the correct heading, true/false/not given and complete the sentence. Candidates must read the IELTS reading passage and decide which heading belongs to which paragraph. Candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage to answer whether the given statement is true or false or not given. Candidates are required to complete the sentence using one word from the passage. Candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers to practise more on different topics.

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Reading Passage Questions

A
When the US explorer and academic Hiram Bingham arrived in South America in 1911, he was ready for what was to be the greatest achievement of his life: the exploration of the remote hinterland to the west of Cusco, the old capital of the Inca empire in the Andes mountains of Peru. His goal was to locate the remains of a city called Vitcos, the last capital of the Inca civilisation.

Cusco lies on a high plateau at an elevation of more than 3,000 metres, and Bingham’s plan was to descend from this plateau along the valley of the Urubamba river, which takes a circuitous route down to the Amazon and passes through an area of dramatic canyons and mountain ranges.

B
When Bingham and his team set off down the Urubamba in late July,they had an advantage over travellers who had preceded them: a track had recently been blasted down the valley canyon to enable rubber to be brought up by mules from the jungle. Almost all previous travellers had left the river at Ollantaytambo and taken a high pass across the mountains to rejoin the river lower down, thereby cutting a substantial corner, but also therefore never passing through the area around Machu Picchu.

C
On 24 July they were a few days into their descent of the valley. The day began slowly, with Bingham trying to arrange sufficient mules for the next stage of the trek. His companions showed no interest in accompanying him up the nearby hill to see some ruins that a local farmer, Melchor Arteaga, had told them about the night before. The morning was dull and damp, and also seems to have been less than keen on the prospect of climbing the hill. In his book Lost City of the Incas, he relates that he made the ascent without having the least expectation that he would find anything at the top.

D
Bingham writes about the approach in vivid style in his book. First, as he climbs up the hill, he describes the ever-present possibility of deadly snakes, ‘capable of making considerable springs when in pursuit of their prey’; not that he sees any. Then there’s a sense of mounting discovery as he comes across great sweeps of terraces, then a mausoleum, followed by monumental staircases and, finally, the grand ceremonial buildings of Machu Picchu. 'It seemed like an unbelievable dream the sight held me spellbound ’, he wrote.

E
We should remember, however, that Lost City of the Incas is a work of hindsight, not written until 1948, many years after his journey. His journal entries of the time reveal a much more gradual appreciation of his achievement. He spent the afternoon at the ruins noting down the dimensions of some of the buildings, then descended and rejoined his companions, to whom he seems to have said little about his discovery. At this stage, didn’t realise the extent or the importance of the site, nor did he realise what use he could make of the discovery.

F
However, soon after returning it occurred to him that he could make a name for himself from this discovery. When he came to write the National Geographic magazine article that broke the story to the world in April 1913, he knew he had to produce a big idea.

He wondered whether it could have been the birthplace of the very first Inca, Manco the Great, and whether it could also have been what chroniclers described as ‘the last city of the Incas’. This term refers to Vilcabamba the settlement where the Incas had fled from Spanish invaders in the 1530s. Bingham made desperate attempts to prove this belief for nearly 40 years. Sadly, his vision of the site as both the beginning and end of the Inca civilisation, while a magnificent one, is inaccurate. We now know, that Vilcabamba actually lies 65 kilometres away in the depths of the jungle.

G
One question that has perplexed visitors, historians and archaeologists alike ever since Bingham, is why the site seems to have been abandoned before the Spanish Conquest. There are no references to it by any of the Spanish chroniclers - and if they had known of its existence so close to Cusco they would certainly have come in search of gold.

An idea which has gained wide acceptance over the past few years is that was a , a country estate built by an Inca emperor to escape the cold winters of Cusco, where the elite could enjoy monumental architecture and spectacular views. Furthermore, the particular architecture of Machu Picchu suggests that it was constructed at the time of the greatest of all the Incas, the emperor Pachacuti (1438-71). By custom, Pachacuti’s descendants built other similar estates for their own use, and so Machu Picchu would have been abandoned after his death, some 50 years before the Spanish Conquest.

Solution and Explanation

Question 1-7:
Above Reading Passage has Seven paragraphs (A-G). choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings. Write the numbers i-viii in boxes 1-7.
List of headings:

Different accounts of the same journey
Bingham gains support
A common belief
The aim of the trip
A dramatic description
A new route
Bingham publishes his theory
Bingham’s lack of enthusiasm

Paragraph A

Answer: IV. The aim of the trip
Supporting sentence:Cusco lies on a high plateau at an elevation of more than 3,000 metres, and Bingham’s plan was to descend from this plateau along the valley of the Urubamba river, which takes a circuitous route down to the Amazon and passes through an area of dramatic canyons and mountain ranges.
Keywords: descend, circuitous route, area of dramatic canyons
Keywords Location: Paragraph A, last line
Explanation: In paragraph A, it is mentioned that explorer Bingham arrived in South America in 1911. As stated, the sole purpose of his visit was to explore the uninhabited region to the west of Cuesco. His objectives and desire to find the ruins of the long-lost city of Vitcos are stated in the paragraph. As a result, the answer option The purpose of the trip seems to be a wonderful fit for paragraph A.

Paragraph B

Answer: VI. A new route
Supporting Sentence: When Bingham and his team set off down the Urubamba in late July,they had an advantage over travellers who had preceded them: a track had recently been blasted down the valley canyon to enable rubber to be brought up by mules from the jungle.
Keywords: travellers, track, blasted down,advantage
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, 1st line
Explanation: According to paragraph B, Bingham's team enjoys an advantage. In order for rubber to be transported up by mules from the jungle, a new route had to be blasted down the valley canyon. The journey was harder for the earlier travellers, who had to abandon the river and trek over a high trail along the mountain. Bingham, though, has it easy because he can take this new path and avoid everything.

Paragraph C

Answer: VIII. Bingham’s lack of enthusiasm
Supporting Sentence: In his book Lost City of the Incas, he relates that he made the ascent without having the least expectation that he would find anything at the top.
Keywords: ascent, least expectation, Lost City of Incas
Keywords Location: Paragraph C, last line
Explanation: Bingham's disinterest is discussed in paragraph C. He describes in his book how he was really hesitant to climb the hill because he had no idea what he would find there. The new approach actually turned out to be a blessing. He had lost any sense of morality and was averse to doing anything constructive. Since this is the case, the header "Bingham's lack of enthusiasm" fits perfectly.

Paragraph D

Answer: V. A dramatic description
Supporting Sentence: First, as he climbs up the hill, he describes the ever-present possibility of deadly snakes, ‘capable of making considerable springs when in pursuit of their prey’; not that he sees any.
Keywords: possibility, deadly snakes, considerable springs, prey
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, 2nd line
Explanation: Bingham describes the wonderful sights he encounters while ascending in paragraph D. Snakes weren't present when he had expected them to be. As he views the vast terraces, a tomb, and finally Machu Picchu, the pinnacle of human achievement, he talks about the excitement of discovery. According to him, it was like an "unreal dream that held him fascinated." It is similarly unbelievable from the readers' perspective, which heightens the drama. Therefore, the heading "A dramatic description" seems appropriate for this paragraph.

Paragraph E

Answer: I. Different accounts of the same journey
Supporting Sentence: We should remember, however, that Lost City of the Incas is a work of hindsight, not written until 1948, many years after his journey. His journal entries of the time reveal a much more gradual appreciation of his achievement.
Keywords: hindsight, journey, journal, gradual appreciation
Keywords Location: Paragraph E, 1st and 2nd line
Explanation: According to paragraph E, he first had doubts about his research and conclusions and did not view them as commendable accomplishments. On the way down, he avoids discussing his discovery with his friends. To put it more precisely, it is like a distinct story from what is being told. The viewpoints change because this paragraph is set many years after his adventure. So, the correct answer is "Different accounts of the same journey".

Paragraph F

Answer: VII. Bingham publishes his theory
Supporting Sentence: When he came to write the National Geographic magazine article that broke the story to the world in April 1913, he knew he had to produce a big idea.
Keywords: National Geographic Magazine, article, story
Keywords Location: Paragraph F, 2nd line
Explanation: The fact that the hypotheses were published without hesitation is indicated by paragraph F. In an effort to establish his reputation, he published his theory shortly after. He stated as much in the piece from National Geographic. He tried to show that the city would have been both the beginning and the end of the Inca civilization, but he was unable to do so. It appears that throughout the text, Bingham discusses the reasons for his conduct. So it seems entirely justified that the heading "Bingham publishes his theory" is the answer.

Paragraph G

Answer: III. A common belief
Supporting Sentence: An idea which has gained wide acceptance over the past few years is that it was a country estate built by an Inca emperor to escape the cold winters of Cusco, where the elite could enjoy monumental architecture and spectacular views.
Keywords: wide acceptance, country estate, cold winters
Keywords Location: Paragraph G, 3rd line
Explanation: A detailed discussion of the findings and some frequently asked topics can be found in paragraph G. Such as why the Spanish Conquest left this location abandoned. Additionally, considering that the invaders would have come looking for gold, it is understandable that Bingham had to hunt. The paragraph continues by explaining that this may have been a winter retreat for the affluent. There they would travel to avoid the cold as well as take in the stunning scenery and architecture.

Questions 8-11:
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2? In boxes 8-11 on your answer sheet write

YES if the statement agrees with the information
NO if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this in the passage

Bingham went to South America in search of an Inca city.

Answer: True
Supporting Sentence: When the US explorer and academic Hiram Bingham arrived in South America in 1911, he was ready for what was to be the greatest achievement of his life: the exploration of the remote hinterland to the west of Cusco, the old capital of the Inca empire in the Andes mountains of Peru.
Keywords: Bingham, arrived, south america, exploration, cusco
Keywords Location: Paragraph A, 1st line
Explanation: This is entirely accurate, as he sought to learn the location of the final Inca city. Bingham landed in South America in 1911, and this is where the reading passage begins. At that time, he was prepared for his biggest accomplishment. It was the discovery of the area west of Cusco, the former Inca Empire capital in Peru's Andes mountains.

Bingham chose a particular route down the Urubamba valley because it was the most common route used by travellers.

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: When Bingham and his team set off down the Urubamba in late July,they had an advantage over travellers who had preceded them: a track had recently been blasted down the valley canyon to enable rubber to be brought up by mules from the jungle.
Keywords: advantage, travellers, track, blasted down
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, 1st line
Explanation: He discovered a simpler path because it had been built for mules to use when transporting rubber from the bush. Cusco was located at an elevation of more than 3000 metres, and Bingha had intended to descend the plateau via the Urubamba Valley. It is never said that it was a popular route; rather, it seems from the passage that Bingham chose a route intended for mules. Hence, this is wholly false.

Bingham understood the significance of Machu Picchu as soon as he saw it

Answer: False
Supporting Sentence: Then there’s a sense of mounting discovery as he comes across great sweeps of terraces, then a mausoleum, followed by monumental staircases and, finally, the grand ceremonial buildings of Machu Picchu. 'It seemed like an unbelievable dream. The sight held me spellbound ’, he wrote.
Keywords: monumental, dream, spellbound
Keywords Location: Paragraph D, last 2 lines
Explanation: It is false because the text claims that he was dubious about his findings and didn't really think they were important until he gave them some thought. After witnessing this, he had no idea what was going on and was understandably highly perplexed by the findings. He described it as an incredible dream that he found extremely difficult to believe.

Bingham returned to Machu Picchu in order to find evidence to support his theory.

Answer: Not Given
Supporting Sentence:The reading passage did not contain any pertinent information related to the question.
Keywords: The reading passage did not contain any pertinent information related to the question.
Keywords Location:The reading passage did not contain any pertinent information related to the question.
Explanation: The reading passage did not contain any pertinent information related to the question.

Question 12, 13:

Complete the sentences chooinsing one word from the passage:

The track that took Bingham down the Urubamba valley had been created for the transportation of ___________________.

Answer: Rubber
Supporting Sentence: When Bingham and his team set off down the Urubamba in late July,they had an advantage over travellers who had preceded them: a track had recently been blasted down the valley canyon to enable rubber to be brought up by mules from the jungle.
Keywords: advantage, travellers, track, blasted down
Keywords Location: Paragraph B, 1st line
Explanation: This question's response can be found in paragraph B. According to the 1st line, mules were used to transport rubber in the Urubamba valley. He was preceded by passengers who descended the valley canyon in the direction of a route that had recently been blasted. They had to collect rubber from that bush, which would be hauled up by mules.

13 Bingham found out about the ruins of Machu Picchu from a _________________ in the Urubamba valley.

Answer: Farmer
Supporting Sentence: His companions showed no interest in accompanying him up the nearby hill to see some ruins that a local farmer, Melchor Arteaga, had told them about the night before.
Keywords: farmer, ruins, hills
Keywords Location: 2nd line, paragraph C
Explanation: The answer to this question is provided in paragraph C. 2nd line of paragraph C reveals that it is being discussed how Bingham got in touch with a farmer called Melchor Arteaga, who told them the previous evening. Despite his desire to see the remains, Bingham's buddies were unwilling to accompany him until the adjacent hill. A local farmer called Melchor Arteaga informed him about the ruins the previous evening. He naturally intended to ascend the hill the following morning.