The peopling of Patagonia
Read The peopling of Patagonia and check the IELTS Reading answers. 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 occupa…
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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 regrading the rate of dispersion of humans throughout both continents must take into account.
Vocabulary from this passage
6 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- dispersion noun
The action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area
The dispersion of seeds by the wind is a common reproductive strategy for many plants.
- extrapolate verb
To extend the application of a conclusion to an unknown situation based on known data
We cannot extrapolate the results of this small study to the entire national population.
- pristine adjective
In its original condition; unspoiled and clean as if new
The divers explored the pristine coral reef, which had remained untouched by human activity.
- scant adjective
Barely sufficient or adequate; providing very little information or evidence
The archaeologists were frustrated by the scant remains found at the ancient burial site.
- tenuous adjective
Very weak or slight, often used to describe a fragile situation or argument
The link between the two events is tenuous and lacks supporting evidence.
- unequivocal adjective
Leaving no doubt; unambiguous and clear in meaning or evidence
The DNA test provided unequivocal proof of the suspect's presence at the scene.
Answers with explanations
- 27. C
The correct option is **C**. The writer argues that the timing of Patagonian settlement is crucial because it affects the **baseline** for research into the **wider region** (North and South America). It acts as a necessary anchor for all calculations regarding human dispersion rate across the continents.
- 28. C
The correct option is **C**. The purpose of the second paragraph is to provide an overview or **summarise** the ongoing **scholarly debate** between proponents of 'early' vs 'late' settlement dates, rather than introducing new data or challenging specific findings.
- 29. A
The correct option is **A**. The writer introduces the 'late' model primarily to **compare** its logic (rapid, single wave) against the **early model** (slower, adaptive), which the author considers a more realistic scenario for how humans moved through a diverse continent.
- 30. D
The correct option is **D**. The writer's point is that the 'early' model is the 'most realistic scenario' because it accounts for how humans would have to interact with the **physical conditions** and **natural habitats** of the land, adapting slowly rather than moving in an impossible single wave.
- 31. B
The correct option is **B**. The writer suggests that Monte Verde provides **supporting evidence** for an **early settlement** (12,500 years ago), which effectively refutes the 8,000-year 'late' model by proving humans were in the region much sooner than that model allows.
- 32. NO
The answer is NO. The writer explicitly states that the environment the Patagonian migrants entered was **similar** to **post-glacial Europe**. Therefore, the conditions were not **unique** to Patagonia, as there was a known parallel in another part of the world.
- 33. NOT GIVEN
The answer is NOT GIVEN. While the writer describes the **high country** as a 'tenuous' settlement and mentions 'scant' evidence, there is no mention of what the migrants **hunted** or their specific dietary habits in this particular region.
- 34. NO
The answer is NO. The statement claims archaeologists 'failed to draw conclusions,' but the writer asserts that there is **reliable evidence** from rock shelters in Argentina and Chile to **confirm** human presence. This indicates successful scientific conclusions were reached.
- 35. YES
The answer is YES. The writer explains that archaeological materials can be **moved** or 'deposited' by **natural agency**, such as **floods** or **predators**, rather than being placed there by humans, confirming they can be relocated in a variety of ways.
- 36. D
The answer is **good condition** (D). The text mentions that wooden artefacts were found in peat, which preserved them 'remarkably well'. This equates to the artefacts being in **good condition**, allowing for accurate radiocarbon dating of the site's foundations.
- 37. B
The answer is **random collection** (B). The writer criticizes the Los Toldos sample because carbon flecks were taken **unsystematically** (randomly) from various locations. This **random collection** undermines the site's value because the materials cannot be reliably associated with the artefacts.
- 38. C
The answer is **similar properties** (C). At Arroyo Feo, the artefacts were found at the 'same depth' and had the 'same origins' as Los Toldos finds. These shared characteristics represent **similar properties**, helping archaeologists date the occupation to 9,000 years ago.
- 39. H
The answer is **reliable connection** (H). At Las Buitreras, the lack of certainty regarding 'cut marks' means there is no **reliable connection** (or 'no way of securely relating') between the animal remains and **human presence**, making the evidence inconclusive.
- 40. J
The answer is **immediate surroundings** (J). The text states that findings at Cueva Fell are restricted to the **direct vicinity** due to environmental changes like flooding. Consequently, the data cannot be extrapolated to areas beyond its **immediate surroundings**.