Viking Ireland Reading Answers

Jan 6, 2025

Viking Ireland is a topic for academic reading answers. Viking Ireland Reading Answers has a total of 15 IELTS questions. In the first set of questions (from Questions No. 14-19), you must choose a suitable heading for all the paragraphs from the given passage. After that, in the next set of questions (from Questions No. 20-24), match each statement with the correct option, and then, on the remaining set of questions (from Questions No. 25-28), give the answers in ONE WORD only.

The IELTS Reading Section plays a crucial role in the IELTS exam, evaluating a candidate's capability to comprehend and interpret various texts. IELTS Reading answers examine the comprehension skills of the candidates through passages on diverse topics. In this article, you will engage with a series of IELTS Reading Practice questions that simulate real test scenarios. Whether you are studying for academic or general training modules, working on these IELTS Reading questions will familiarize you with the overall exam structure and increase your confidence for the actual exam.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers

Check: Register for IELTS Coaching — Join for a Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Viking Ireland

A recent excavation in Dublin challenges long-held ideas about when the Scandinavian raiders known as Vikings arrived in Ireland.

A. When Irish archaeologists working under Dublin's South Great George's Street unearthed the remains of four young men buried with fragments of Viking shields, daggers, and personal ornaments, in the excavation, appeared to be simply more evidence of the Viking presence in Ireland. At least 77 Viking burial sites have been found across the base of artifacts that accompanied them, and the South Great George's Street burials seemed to be further examples. Yet when archaeologist Linzi Simpson sent the remains for analysis, the tests showed that the men had been buried in Irish soil for years, or even decades, before the accepted date for establishing the first year-round Viking settlement in Dublin.

B. Simpson's findings are now adding new weight to an idea gaining growing acceptance that instead of a sudden, calamitous Invasion, the arrival of the Vikings in Ireland started with small-scale settlements and trade links connected Ireland with Northern Europe. Furthermore, those trading contacts may have occurred generations before the violent raids described in contemporary texts, works written by monks living in isolated monasteries. These were often the only places where literate people lived and were especially targeted by Viking raiders for their food suppliers and treasures. Scholars continue to examine the texts written by monks but are also considering their limitations. “Most researchers accept now that the raids were not the first contact, as the old texts suggest,” says Viking expert Gareth Williams. How did the Vikings know where all those monasteries were? It's because there was already contact. They were already trading before those raids happened.”

C. Although the earlier dates for a Viking presence in Dublin that have been identified by Simpson and independent archaeologists differ from the later dates by only a few decades, when combined with other evidence, they are challenging the chronology of Viking settlement in Ireland. Since the 1960s, archaeologists have been gathering information about the mid-ninth-century settlement that lay under the sidewalks of Fishamble Street in Dublin. According to archeologist Ruth Jonson, the Vikings started with sporadic summer raids, but after some years of profitable plunder, they decided to stay and built settlements for the winter

D. Carbon dating, which measures the age of organic materials based on the amount of radioactive carbon 14 remaining in a specimen, usually gives a range of likely dates for the time of death. The older the material, the wider the range. In the case of the four individuals excavated at the South Great George's Street site, Simpson found that two of them had a 95 percent probability of having died between 670 and 680, with a 68 percent probability of death occurring between 690 and 790. Thus, the entire most likely range was before the first documented arrival of Vikings in 795. A third individual lived slightly later, with a 95 percent probability of having died between 680 and 882. The dates were not what Simpson had thought they would be. These dates seem impossibly early and difficult to reconcile with the available historical and archaeological sources,” she says.

E. The fourth individual excavated at South Great George's Street was the most intact of the group and revealed the most about the lives and hardships of Vikings at this time. A powerfully built man in his late teens or early 20s, he was approximately 1.70m. tall by the day's standards, with the muscular torso and upper limbs that would have come from hard, ocean-going rowing. His bones showed streets associated with heavy lifting beginning in childhood. Unlike the three other men, he was not buried with weapons. Like one of the other men found at the site, he had a congenital deformity at the base of his spine, perhaps indicating they were relatives. Carbon dating gave a wider range for his lifetime, showing a 95 percent probability that he died between 786 and 955.

F. Tests were also carried out on the four South Great George's Street men's isotopic oxygen levels. Such tests indicate where a person spent their childhood based on a chemical signature left by groundwater in developing teeth. The results showed that the two men with the spinal had spent their childhood in Scandinavia. However, the other two had spent their childhoods in Ireland or Scotland, another sign of permanent settlement by Viking families and not just summer raids by warriors.

G. The evidence of an earlier-than-expected Viking presence in Ireland, based as it is on forensic tests conducted on a handful of burials, may seem slight. But seemingly small pieces of evidence can overturn well-established conventions in archaeology. Both Simpson and Johnson stress more excavations and tests will be needed before anyone can rewrite the history of Viking settlement, and such work is years away. Williams adds, There are two possibilities raised by (Simpson's) work. Either there was Viking activity earlier than we've realized in Ireland, or there is something in the water or soil in Dublin skewing the data, and both possibilities need further research.” Nevertheless, Williams agrees with Simpson and others that the chronology of the Viking presence in Ireland is uncertain and that they were possibly trading or raiding in Ireland before 795. 'It's a poorly documented part of history, says Williams. But before there was Viking settlement, there was this big trading zone in the North Sea. Did it extend to the Irish Sea? We don't have any evidence to say that, but it could be just a matter of time.”

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 14-19

Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below. Write the correct number from i to vii.

LIST OF HEADINGS

A possible genetic link between the Vikings and the Irish
An assumed similarity with previous discoveries
The need for additional data
An insight into the lifestyle of a particular Viking
Doubts about the truth of historical documents
A research technique providing unexpected information
The particular locations Vikings grew up
A decision to remain in Ireland for longer periods

14. Section B

Answer: v. (Doubts about the truth of historical documents)

Supporting statement: “.......Simpson's findings are now adding new weight to an idea gaining growing acceptance that instead of a sudden, calamitous Invasion, the arrival of the Vikings in Ireland started with small-scale settlements and trade links connected Ireland with Northern Europe........”

Keywords: Vikings, Ireland, findings

Keyword Location: para B, Line1-3.

Explanation: Scholars question the reliability of monk-written texts, highlighting pre-existing trade relations and suggesting that, contrary to traditional narratives, Viking raids were not the first contact.

15. Section C

Answer: viii (A decision to remain in Ireland for longer periods)

Supporting statement: “.......According to archeologist Ruth Jonson, the Vikings started with sporadic summer raids, but after some years of profitable plunder, they decided to stay, and built settlements for the winter........”

Keywords: Summer, Winter, Stay, Settlements

Keyword Location: para C, Line 6-10.

Explanation: This passage highlights how the Vikings transitioned from summer raiding to winter settlement, indicating a shift toward staying in Ireland for extended periods.

16. Section D

Answer: vi. (A research technique providing unexpected information)

Supporting statement: “.......The dates were not what Simpson had thought they would be. These dates seem impossibly early and difficult to reconcile with the available historical and archaeological sources........”

Keywords: Dates, Historical, Archaeological

Keyword Location: para D, Line 9-11.

Explanation: Carbon dating revealed earlier dates of death than expected, challenging historical assumptions. This unexpected information emphasizes the importance of scientific techniques in uncovering details that differ from traditional sources.

17. Section E

Answer: iv. (An insight into the lifestyle of a particular Viking)

Supporting statement: “.......A powerfully built man in his late teens or early 20s, he was approximately 1.70m. tall by the day's standards, with the muscular torso and upper limbs that would have come from hard, ocean-going rowing........”

Keywords: Muscular, Man, Torso, Lifestyle

Keyword Location: para E, Line 3-5.

Explanation: This section focuses on the details of the man's physical characteristics, labor-intensive lifestyle, and congenital deformities, revealing his life and hardships during the Viking Age.

18. Section F

Answer: vii. (The particular locations Vikings grew up)

Supporting statement: “........However, the other two had spent their childhoods in Ireland or Scotland, another sign of permanent settlement by Viking families and not just summer raids by warriors........”

Keywords: Vikings, Scotland, Settlement, Locations

Keyword Location: para F, Line 5-7

Explanation: The passage discusses isotopic oxygen analysis, revealing the childhood locations of Viking men, linking them to Scandinavia, Ireland, or Scotland, indicating Viking family settlement beyond seasonal raids.

19. Section G

Answer: iii. (The need for additional data)

Supporting statement: “........The evidence of an earlier-than-expected Viking presence in Ireland, based as it is on forensic tests conducted on a handful of burials, may seem slight. But seemingly small pieces of evidence can overturn well-established conventions in archaeology.........”

Keywords: Viking, Ireland, evidence, archaeology

Keyword Location: para G, Line 1-4

Explanation: This article emphasizes the need for further excavations and forensic tests to confirm earlier Viking activity in Ireland, as the current evidence is limited and inconclusive.

Questions 20-23

Match each statement with the correct expert, A, B, or C.

20. The Vikings were aware of the financial benefits of staying in Ireland.

21. Written accounts reporting when the Vikings arrived in Ireland may not be accurate.

22. The inconsistency in sets of data came as a surprise.

23. It may be the case that the archaeological evidence gathered so far is being affected by geological factors.

LIST OF EXPERTS

A. Linzi Simpson

B. Gareth Williams

C. Ruth Johnson

20. The Vikings were aware of the financial benefits of staying in Ireland

Answer: C. Ruth Johnson

Supporting statement: “....... the Vikings started with sporadic summer raids, but after some years of profitable plunder, they decided to stay and built settlements for the winter.".........”

Keywords: Vikings, Settlements, Ireland

Keyword Location: para C, Line 6-10

Explanation: This statement directly highlights the Vikings' realization of the economic advantages of remaining in Ireland for plunder and trade, leading to the establishment of settlements.

21. Written accounts reporting when the Vikings arrived in Ireland may not be accurate.

Answer: B. Gareth Williams

Supporting statement: “….Most researchers accept now that the raids were not the first contact, as the old texts suggest,” says Viking expert Gareth Williams. How did the Vikings know where all those monasteries were? ”.....”

Keywords: Vikings, Monasteries, Raids

Keyword Location: para B, Line 10-14

Explanation: This passage discusses how written accounts, particularly those written by monks, may be limited or biased, proposing that Viking contact predates documented violent raids.

22. The inconsistency in sets of data came as a surprise.

Answer: Ruth Johnson

Supporting statement: “….The dates were not what Simpson had thought they would be. These dates seem impossibly early and difficult to reconcile with the available historical and archaeological sources,” she says......”

Keywords: historical, sources, dates, Simpson

Keyword Location: para D, Line 10-14

Explanation: Johnson, dealing with archaeological evidence, may be surprised at data variation caused by unexpected patterns or missing context during excavation or analysis.

23. It may be the case that the archaeological evidence gathered so far is being affected by geological factors.

Answer: Ruth Johnson

Supporting statement: “….Williams adds, There are two possibilities raised by (Simpson's) work. Either there was Viking activity earlier than we've realized in Ireland, or there is something in the water or soil in Dublin skewing the data, and both possibilities need further research.”......”

Keywords: historical, sources, dates, Simpson

Keyword Location: para G, Line 06-10

Explanation: Johnson will consider geological factors such as erosion or soil composition affecting preservation, which will influence interpretations of Viking activity based on recovered artifacts.

Questions 24-28

Choose ONE WORD for each given answer

THE FOURTH VIKING OF SOUTH GREAT GEORGE'S STREET

When the remains of the fourth Viking were excavated at South Great George's Street, it became clear that they were of a male who was tall by the days’ ____24____ of that time. Due to strenuous physical activity, his ____25_____ as well as his arms were well-developed, but several of his bones indicated stresses that would have dated from his ____26_____. He also had a genetic abnormality in his lower _____27____. His burial differed from that of the other three Vikings discovered at the site, as no _____28_____ were included.

24. When the remains of the fourth Viking were excavated at South Great George's Street, it became clear that they were of a male who was tall by the days’ ____24____ of that time

Answer: Standards

Supporting statement: “….A powerfully built man in his late teens or early 20s, he was approximately 1.70m. tall by the day's standards, with the muscular torso and upper limbs that would have come from hard, ocean-going rowing.”......”

Keywords: Standards, Man, Tall, Viking

Keyword Location: para E, Line 3-5

Explanation: The passage mentions that the fourth Viking was “about 1.70 meters tall by the standards of the day”, a reference to the average height comparison of that period.

25. Due to strenuous physical activity, his ____25_____ as well as his arms were well-developed

Answer: Torso

Keywords: Standards, Man, Tall, Viking

Keyword Location: para E, Line 3-5

Explanation: The paragraph in section E mentions the fourth person's “muscular torso and upper limbs”, which evolved from hard, sea-going sailing. This directly matches the physical description given.

26. but several of his bones indicated stresses that would have dated from his ____26_____.

Answer: Childhood

Supporting statement: “….His bones showed streets associated with heavy lifting beginning in childhood. Unlike the three other men, he was not buried with weapons......”

Keywords: Childhood, Bones, Weapons

Keyword Location: para E, Line 5-7

Explanation: This passage describes the young man's muscular build and bone tension, traits attributed to heavy lifting and sailing that began in his childhood, as indicated by the characteristics of his skeleton.

27. He also had a genetic abnormality in his lower _____27____.

Answer: Spine

Supporting statement: “….Like one of the other men found at the site, he had a congenital deformity at the base of his spine, perhaps indicating they were relatives. ......”

Keywords: Spine, Deformity, Congenital

Keyword Location: para E, Line 7-9

Explanation: The passage mentions, “He had a congenital deformity at the base of his spinal cord.” This description describes a genetic abnormality found in the fourth individual excavated in South Great George Street.

28. His burial differed from that of the other three Vikings discovered at the site, as no _____28_____ were included.

Answer: Weapons

Supporting statement: “….His bones showed streets associated with heavy lifting beginning in childhood. Unlike the three other men, he was not buried with weapons......”

Keywords: Childhood, Bones, Weapons

Keyword Location: para E, Line 5-7

Explanation: The passage states that the fourth man was not buried with weapons, unlike the other three men. This suggests a possible difference in status or role within the Viking community.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples