The Olmec and their great stone heads
Read The Olmec and their great stone heads and check the IELTS Reading answers. The Olmec civilisation thrived in what is today eastern Mexico, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from 1200 to 400 BC. The Olmec was the first major culture in Mesoamerica, a geographical area including Mexico and…
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The Olmec civilisation thrived in what is today eastern Mexico, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from 1200 to 400 BC. The Olmec was the first major culture in Mesoamerica, a geographical area including Mexico and Central America. As in many ancient societies, the majority of the Olmec population laboured in the fields producing crops, while some spent their days fishing in the rivers. But the Olmec also developed cities - population centres with political and cultural significance and influence - as early as 1200 BC. They were great traders who maintained contacts with other societies in the area. They traded their finely made masks and small statues, in return for materials such as semi-precious stones, crocodile skins, sea shells, sharks' teeth, and brightly coloured feathers, as well as basic necessities like salt. Their skill as traders helped spread their culture to different contemporary civilisations and to several later related civilisations such as the Aztecs and the Maya.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- contemporary adjective
Existing, occurring, or living at the same historical period; coexisting with another culture or event.
The researchers compared the artistic styles of several contemporary civilizations in Mesoamerica.
- excavation noun
The systematic process of digging up an archaeological site to uncover buried historical remains and artifacts.
The formal excavation of the ancient tomb revealed a treasure trove of gold masks.
- historical context noun
The specific social, political, and cultural circumstances surrounding a past event or artifact that illuminate its meaning.
Analyzing artifacts without their historical context can lead to major misinterpretations by researchers.
- laborious adjective
Requiring a massive amount of physical or mental effort, time, and sustained, intense hard work.
Moving the heavy stone blocks across mountains was a laborious task for the ancient laborers.
- pinpoint verb
To identify, locate, or determine something with absolute precision, extreme accuracy, or complete certainty.
It is exceptionally difficult to pinpoint the exact century when these stone monoliths were built.
- reproduction noun
A precise copy, duplicate, or replica of an original work of art or a historical object.
The museum displays a high-quality reproduction of the original sculpture for educational purposes.
- sheer size noun
The immense, impressive, or overwhelming physical magnitude, weight, or dimensions of an object.
The sheer size of the monument astounded visitors who gathered at the museum entrance.
- significant undertaking noun
A major task, project, or venture that demands substantial effort, resources, planning, and coordination.
Constructing the massive stone statues was a significant undertaking for the tribal community.
- thrive verb
To grow, develop, or prosper vigorously; to reach a stage of robust cultural, social, or economic advancement.
The ancient civilization began to thrive due to fertile soil and strategic regional trade routes.
- unearth verb
To discover or bring to light something buried in the ground through careful digging, exploration, or research.
Archaeologists managed to unearth several stone monuments that had been buried for centuries.
Answers with explanations
- 1. TRUE
To answer this TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN question, we look for synonyms connecting the statement to the text. The passage states that the **majority** of the population **laboured in the fields producing crops**. "Majority" perfectly matches **many**, and "laboured in the fields producing crops" is the exact definition of being **farmers**. Because the claim in the statement is directly and unambiguously supported by the passage, the correct answer is TRUE.
- 2. NOT GIVEN
The question asks if the Olmec's **trading network** was based on **river transport**. While the text mentions that they were "great traders" and that some people "spent their days fishing in the rivers", it never connects these two ideas. It doesn't tell us *how* the goods were transported for trade. Because the passage lacks sufficient information to either confirm or deny the use of rivers for their trading network, the correct answer is NOT GIVEN.
- 2-3: illness
2: The question asks if the Olmec's **trading network** was based on **river transport**. While the text mentions that they were "great traders" and that some people "spent their days fishing in the rivers", it never connects these two ideas. It doesn't tell us *how* the goods were transported for trade. Because the passage lacks sufficient information to either confirm or deny the use of rivers for their trading network, the correct answer is NOT GIVEN.
3: The question asks whether the **Aztecs** adopted Olmec **cultural practices**. The text explicitly states that the Olmec managed to **spread their culture** to later civilisations, specifically naming the **Aztecs**. In IELTS logic, if a culture is "spread to" another group, it means that group received or **adopted** those cultural elements. Since the statement is a direct paraphrase of the writer's claim, the answer is TRUE.
- 3. TRUE
The question asks whether the **Aztecs** adopted Olmec **cultural practices**. The text explicitly states that the Olmec managed to **spread their culture** to later civilisations, specifically naming the **Aztecs**. In IELTS logic, if a culture is "spread to" another group, it means that group received or **adopted** those cultural elements. Since the statement is a direct paraphrase of the writer's claim, the answer is TRUE.
- 3-4: Bach
3: The question asks whether the **Aztecs** adopted Olmec **cultural practices**. The text explicitly states that the Olmec managed to **spread their culture** to later civilisations, specifically naming the **Aztecs**. In IELTS logic, if a culture is "spread to" another group, it means that group received or **adopted** those cultural elements. Since the statement is a direct paraphrase of the writer's claim, the answer is TRUE.
4: The statement claims that **La Venta** was the **last** city to decline. However, the text details that La Venta went into decline first, and **other Olmec population centres disappeared** "Soon after this". Because other cities fell *after* La Venta, La Venta could not possibly be the final one. The passage directly contradicts the statement, making the answer FALSE.
- 4. FALSE
The statement claims that **La Venta** was the **last** city to decline. However, the text details that La Venta went into decline first, and **other Olmec population centres disappeared** "Soon after this". Because other cities fell *after* La Venta, La Venta could not possibly be the final one. The passage directly contradicts the statement, making the answer FALSE.
- 5. FALSE
The statement suggests the Olmec grew a **large variety** of agricultural products. We must locate the discussion about their crops. The text explicitly says they relied on a **few basic crops**. "A few basic" directly contradicts the idea of a "large variety." Because the specific claim made in the statement is proven wrong by the text, the correct answer is FALSE.
- 6. NOT GIVEN
The question specifies that the Olmec fought **many battles** with **enemies from neighbouring areas**. The text briefly lists **warfare** as a possible human action that played a role in their decline. However, it does not provide any details about who they fought against (neighbouring enemies) or how often they fought (many battles). Without this specific information, we cannot confirm or deny the statement. Therefore, it is NOT GIVEN.
- 7. excavation
The note completion requires a noun that occurred **between 1871 and 1994** regarding the Olmec heads. The text states that the "first **excavation**" happened in 1871 and the last one was unearthed in 1994. The word "excavation" acts as a noun fitting the grammatical structure of "the [noun] of the Olmec heads", making it the exact correct answer.
- 8. mountains
We need to find where the **basalt stone** was **taken from**. The passage mentions the "basalt stone boulders" came from **distant locations** (located as far as 100 kilometres away). Specifically, it says they came from **mountains**. The word "mountains" fits the "from [noun]" structure perfectly.
- 9. rafts
The sentence requires a method of transport on the **river** used to **move the stones**. The text explains the laborious process involved manpower (dragged by men) and using **rafts** on rivers. The noun "rafts" perfectly completes the phrase "moved by river on [blank]".
- 10. metal
We are looking for the material that the Olmec did **not have** to make **tools** out of, making their achievement **remarkable**. The passage clearly states, "The Olmec did not have **metal** tools, which makes the sculptures all the more remarkable." The noun "metal" completes the sentence grammatically and factually.
- 11. size
The note seeks the characteristic of the heads that made **archaeologists** believe they represented **gods**. The text notes that archaeologists felt their "sheer **size**" suggested they were gods. The noun "size" fits perfectly into the phrase "the [blank] of the heads indicated...".
- 12. game
We need to identify what the **helmets** were thought to be associated with. The text mentions that other archaeologists argued the cap looks like a headdress worn by players in an ancient **game**. As the question asks what they wore in an "Olmec [blank]", the singular noun "game" provides the correct meaning and grammar.
- 13. rulers
The summary focuses on the **today's most widely accepted theory** about who the heads depict. The text matches this by saying "Most archaeologists today... believe that the heads actually represent Olmec **rulers**." The plural noun "rulers" completes the sentence accurately and obeys the ONE WORD ONLY limit.