The Peopling of Patagonia Reading Answers

Mar 6, 2025

The Peopling of Patagonia Reading Answers is a generic topic for IELTS Reading Answers. The Peopling of Patagonia Reading Answers, in total, consist of 14 IELTS questions. In the given set of questions (Questions No. 27-31), the candidate has to choose the correct option from the list of given options. After that, from Questions 32-35, you have to answer all the statements in either TRUE, FALSE, OR NOT GIVEN options. Finally, on the remaining set of questions (Questions No. 36-40), complete the summary paragraph from the list of words and phrases given below.

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Section 1 The Peopling of Patagonia Reading Answers

Anthropologists continue to investigate human migration to Patagonia at the southern tip of South America.

The human settlement of the southern extremity of the Americas has always fascinated pre-historians. Viewed from a global perspective, this was the last major continental land mass to be reached by human beings. The earliest occupation of Patagonia carries obvious implications for understanding when the North and South American continents were peopled because it gives a baseline that all calculations regarding the rate of dispersion of humans throughout both continents must be taken into account.

For many years, the human settlement of North and South America has been conceived of as beginning in the far north and traveling progressively southwards to Patagonia. However, fundamental disagreements developed concerning the length of time involved Some scholars accepted a human presence in the Americas as early as 20,000 years ago, while others proposed that it could date no earlier than 8,000 years ago, and the debate is still with us today.

The idea of a relatively “late' settlement of the Americas (around 8,000 years ago) implies that a rapid process of migration took place. Herein lies a second debate, which revolves around the question of how migration is to be understood. The 'late' model demands a hypothetical migration conceived of as a single, continually advancing wave of settlement. This has always been difficult to take seriously, and many scholars now support the idea of an early model that sees the migration as a less ordered migration, this is surely the most realistic scenario as migrants slowly adapt to the diverse natural habitats they would have met while traveling through the continent. Those who argue for an earlier settlement, however, must contend with the lack of unequivocal evidence for archaeological sites older than around 14,000 years. Nevertheless, evidence for human occupation of the center of South America is now securely dated to around 12,500 years ago at the Monte Verde site, which casts doubt on the “late model. The lack of archaeological evidence further south for this period may be explained by the obstacle to humans on foot posed by the huge glacial streams that were present at that time.

We can speculate then that the retreat of the Patagonian glaciers around 14,000 years ago allowed the initial human intrusion into a pristine environment, which was similar to that of early post-glacial Europe. Human settlement of the vast horizontal expanse of the treeless high country must have been tenuous at best, and the evidence for this occupation remains relatively scant, most of it coming from rock shelters in Argentina and Chile. There is, however, reliable evidence from these sites to confirm the presence of humans around 11,000 years ago in different habitats, and some hints of an even older occupation. However, some other sites, where evidence for even earlier human occupation was initially posited, have recently come under fresh scrutiny. This is because anthropologists have come to recognize that bones or other evidence may be deposited in caves by natural agency, in other words by other forces such as floods or predators, and not necessarily by humans. We shall turn now to a more detailed discussion of the archaeological evidence found in various parts of Patagonia. At the site located beside Chinchihuapi Creek, excavations have produced convincing evidence of human occupation, including hut foundations and wooden artifacts. They were buried in layers of peat, which has the property of preserving wood remarkably well, and as a result, radiocarbon dating tests have shown these artifacts to date from around 12,500 years ago. One of the most famous Patagonian sites is a cave known as Los Toldos. However, the evidence from this site has recently been called into question, because dispersed flecks of carbon used in the test process were taken unsystematically from many places in the site. As a result, the association of this material with the artifacts is not at all clear. About 150 kilometers south is the site called El Ceibo, where a similar collection of artifacts to that found at Los Toldos has been discovered from the lowest levels of the dig, but as yet no radiocarbon dates are available and this sort of analysis of the existing evidence is required before the site's value can be confirmed.

The Arroyo Eeo site is located very close to the high plateau. The artifacts from the earliest occupations were found at the same depth and have the same origins as those from Los Toldos, and have been securely dated to around 9,000 years ago. Another site that is mentioned in the debate is Las Buitreras, where several stone flakes associated with bone remains of various animals have been discovered. However, anthropologists now believe that presumed cut marks on the bones are somewhat dubious, and despite detailed testing, there is no way of securely relating any of these remains with human occupation. Finally, some 50 kilometers to the south is the site at Cueva Fell, which was the first Patagonian site to be systematically studied by modern archaeological methods. However, it is now recognized that the utility of this site must be restricted to its direct vicinity, given changes to the nearby area caused by flooding, and findings cannot be freely extrapolated further afield. In conclusion, based on the evidence from several reliable sites, it seems probable that human populations reached Patagonia around 11,000 years ago.

Section 2 Solutions and Explanations

Questions 27-31

Choose the correct letter.

27. In the first paragraph, what is the writer's main point about migration to Patagonia?

A. It started earlier than previously thought.

B. Historians have overlooked its importance.

C. It impacts on research into the wider region.

D. Researchers have calculated its effects on the environment.

Answer: C (It impacts research into the wider region.)

Supporting statement: “.........The earliest occupation of Patagonia carries obvious implications for understanding when the North and South American continents were peopled because it gives a baseline that all calculations regarding the rate of dispersion of humans throughout both continents must take into account..........”

Keywords: Research, Region, Occupation, Patagonia

Keyword Location: para 2, Line 3-7

Explanation: The authors emphasize that understanding the early settlement of Patagonia helps determine the timeline of human migration into North and South America, influencing broader research on human dispersal.

28. In the second paragraph, what is the writer's purpose?

A. to challenge previous research

B. to propose new areas to investigate

C. To summarize a scholarly debate

D. To suggest reasons for human migration

Answer: C (To summarize a scholarly debate)

Supporting statement: “.........Some scholars accepted a human presence in the Americas as early as 20,000 years ago, while others proposed that it could date no earlier than 8,000 years ago, and the debate is still with us today...........”

Keywords: Scholarly, Debate, Human, Americas

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 5-6

Explanation: The paragraph outlines the views of different scholars on the timing of human settlement in the Americas, presenting contrasting opinions without taking a definitive stance, thus summarizing the debate.

29. The writer refers to Tate's model to

A. compare it with another theory of migration.

B. evaluate the success of American migration.

C. Criticize the speed of research into migration.

D. compare migration in different parts of the world

Answer: A (compare it with another theory of migration)

Supporting statement: “.........The 'late' model demands a hypothetical migration conceived of as a single, continually advancing wave of settlement. This has always been difficult to take seriously, and many scholars now support the idea of an early model that sees the migration as a less ordered migration,...........”

Keywords: Theory, Migration, Late, Model

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 4-7

Explanation: “Late” models are compared to “early” models to highlight differing views on migration speeds and patterns. The passage discusses how the initial model is considered more realistic.

30. What is the writer's main point about the 'early' model?

A. Scholars support the idea of fast migrations.

B. It is too random to be a convincing theory.

C. South America was more habitable at an earlier time.

D. It is more consistent with the physical conditions of the land.

Answer: D (It is more consistent with the physical conditions of the land)

Supporting statement: “.........this is surely the most realistic scenario as migrants slowly adapted to the diverse natural habitats they would have met while traveling through the continent............”

Keywords: Consistent, Physical, Land, Scenario

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 8-10

Explanation: Initial models suggest gradual migration, allowing adaptation to different habitats, making it more realistic given the geography of the continent.

31. What does the writer suggest about the Monte Verde site?

A. It is much younger than researchers once estimated.

B. It provides supporting evidence for relatively early settlement.

C. Archaeologists believe the site is of questionable value.

D. Streams exposed the site, making new research possible.

Answer: B (It provides supporting evidence for relatively early settlement.)

Supporting statement: “..........Nevertheless, evidence for human occupation of the center of South America is now securely dated to around 12,500 years ago at the Monte Verde site, which casts doubt on the “late model............”

Keywords: Settlement, Evidence, Occupation, Center

Keyword Location: para 3, Line 11-13

Explanation: Monte Verde has been securely dated to approximately 12,500 years ago, challenging the “late” model of migration. This supports the theory of early human settlement in South America.

Questions 32-33

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3? Write

YES if the statement agrees with the claims

No, if the statement contradicts the claims

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

32. The conditions encountered by the first migrants to Patagonia were unique.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: “..........We can speculate then that the retreat of the Patagonian glaciers around 14,000 years ago allowed the initial human intrusion into a pristine environment, which was similar to that of early post-glacial Europe.............”

Keywords: Conditions, Migrants, Unique, Speculate

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 1-3

Explanation: The passage states that early Patagonian inhabitants entered an ancient environment similar to that of early post-glacial Europe. This implies unique conditions due to retreating glaciers and treeless highlands.

33. In the high country the first migrants hunted wild animals for food

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: This passage discusses human migration and settlement in Patagonia but does not explicitly mention whether the first migrants in the high country hunted wild animals for food.

34. Archaeologists have failed to conclude from the evidence found at rock shelters in Argentina and Chile

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: “..........There is, however, reliable evidence from these sites to confirm the presence of humans by around 11,000 years ago in different habitats, and some hints of an even older occupation..............”

Keywords: Archaeologist, Conclusions, Evidence, Shelters

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 6-8

Explanation: The passage states that reliable evidence from rock shelters in Argentina and Chile confirms human presence about 11,000 years ago, indicating that archaeologists have concluded from the findings.

35. Archaeological evidence can be moved from place to place in a variety of ways

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: “...........This is because anthropologists have come to recognize that bones or other evidence may be deposited in caves by natural agency, in other words by other forces such as floods or predators, and not necessarily by humans. .............”

Keywords: Place, Variety, Bones, Caves

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 10-14

Explanation: The passage states that bones or other evidence can be deposited in caves by natural forces such as floods or predators, confirming that archaeological evidence can be moved from one place to another.

Questions 36-40

Complete the summary using the list of words and phrases, A-J

A. fixed date

B. random collection

C. similar properties

D. good condition

E. scientific evaluation

F. huge quantities

G. new samples

H. reliable connection

I. skilled preservation

J. Immediate surroundings

36. Building remains, and other evidence has been found in _________ at the Chinchihuapi Creek site, And because of this it has been possible to date them to around 12,500 years ago

Answer: D (Good Condition)

Supporting statement: “...........excavations have produced convincing evidence of human occupation, including hut foundations and wooden artifacts. They were buried in layers of peat, which has the property of preserving wood remarkably well, and as a result, radiocarbon dating tests have shown these artifacts to date from around 12,500 years ago.............”

Keywords: Condition, Excavations, Evidence, Occupation

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 15-20

Explanation: The remains at Chinchihuapi Creek were preserved in peat, which maintains wood well. This allowed accurate radiocarbon dating, confirming occupation around 12,500 years ago.

37. However, the __________ of the samples taken from Los Toldos means that this site is of doubtful value.

Answer: B (Random Collection)

Supporting statement: “...........However, the evidence from this site has recently been called into question, because dispersed flecks of carbon used in the test process were taken unsystematically from many places in the site............”

Keywords: Random, Collection, Site, Question

Keyword Location: para 4, Line 20-22

Explanation: The specimens at Los Toldos were collected haphazardly from several locations, making their relationship to the artifacts unclear. This lack of systematic sampling weakens the credibility of the site.

38. The remains found at the Arroyo Feo site show ________ and date from around 9,000 years ago.

Answer: C (Similar Properties)

Supporting statement: “...........The artifacts from the earliest occupations were found at the same depth and have the same origins as those from Los Toldos, and have been securely dated to around 9,000 years ago.............”

Keywords: Properties, Artifacts, Occupations, Depth

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 1-4

Explanation: The artifacts found in Arroyo Fio were at the same depth and had the same origin as those at Los Toldos, confirming their similarity.

39. Unfortunately, no ____________ can be made between the samples taken from Las Buitreras and human presence.

Answer: H (Reliable Connection)

Supporting statement: “...........However, anthropologists now believe that presumed cut marks on the bones are somewhat dubious, and despite detailed testing, there is no way of securely relating any of these remains with human occupation.............”

Keywords: Reliable, Anthropologists, Presumed, Marks

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 6-8

Explanation: No clear link exists between Las Buitreras samples and human occupation. Anthropologists doubt the cut marks on bones, making the association uncertain.

40. The findings of the work carried out at Cueva Fell cannot provide useful information beyond the ___________

Answer: J (Immediate Surroundings)

Supporting statement: “.............However, it is now recognized that the utility of this site must be restricted to its direct vicinity, given changes to the nearby area caused by flooding, and findings cannot be freely extrapolated further afield...........”

Keywords: Immediate, Surroundings, Recognized, Vicinity

Keyword Location: para 5, Line 11-13

Explanation: Due to environmental changes, the findings from Cueva Fell are limited to their immediate area. These cannot be widely applied in other areas.

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