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Tikopia Reading Answers Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 11:57

The IELTS Reading section is designed to evaluate your ability to understand and interpret written English in a variety of contexts. This section is one of the four key components of the IELTS test, alongside Listening, Writing, and Speaking. 

 

During the Reading section, you will encounter a range of texts that reflect the type of reading material you might find in an English-speaking environment, including newspapers, books, magazines, and online articles.

 

The IELTS Reading section is crucial for assessing your reading proficiency and ensuring you can thrive in an English-speaking academic or professional setting.

 

Key highlights of the Reading section:

  • Three reading passages with increasing difficulty
  • Diverse range of text sources, including books, journals, magazines, and newspapers
  • Various question types: multiple-choice, matching headings, completing sentences, and more
  • 60 minutes to complete 40 questions
  • Tests skills in skimming, scanning, and detailed reading

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1. Tikopia Reading Answers Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 - 14 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam.

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2. Tikopia Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Tikopia

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1.

Tikopia Reading Answers Reading Passage

General Information

  • Read Instructions: Understand each question before answering.
  • Manage Time: Spend about 20 minutes per passage.
  • Skim and Scan: Quickly get the main idea and find specific information.
  • Highlight Key Info: Underline essential words or phrases.
  • Answer All Questions: Attempt every question; no penalty for wrong answers.
  • Stay Focused: Avoid distractions and keep your attention on the task.
  • Check Spelling: Ensure correct spelling and grammar.
  • Transfer Answers Clearly: Write answers neatly on the answer sheet.
  • Don’t Dwell: Move on if stuck and return later.
  • Review: If time allows, review your answers.

 

 

 Tikopia Reading Answers Reading Passage

 


Paragraph A: There are still debates about the origins of Polynesian culture, but one thing we can ensure is that Polynesia is not a single tribe but a complex one. Polynesians which include Marquesans, Samoans, Niueans, Tongans, Cook Islanders, Hawaiians, Tahitians, and Maori, are genetically linked to indigenous peoples of parts of Southeast Asia. It’s a subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean, within a triangle that has New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island as its corners.

 

Paragraph B: Polynesian history has fascinated the western world since Pacific cultures were first contacted by European explorers in the late 18th century. The small island of Tikopia, for many people – even for many Solomon Islanders – is so far away that it seems like a mythical land; a place like Narnia, that magical land in C. S. Lewis's classic, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. Maybe because of it – Tikopia, its people, and their cultures have long fascinated scholars, travellers, and casual observers. Like the pioneers' Peter Dillion, Dumont D’Urville and John Coleridge Patterson who visit and write about the island in the 1800s, Raymond Firth is one of those people captured by the alluring attraction of Tikopia. As a result, he had made a number of trips to the island since the 1920s and recorded his experiences, observations, and reflections on Tikopia, its people, cultures and the changes that have occurred.

 

Paragraph C: While engaged in the study of the kinship and religious life of the people of Tikopia, Firth made a few observations on their tattooing. Brief though these notes are, they may be worth putting on record as an indication of the sociological setting of the practice in this primitive Polynesian community. The origin of the English word 'tattoo’ actually comes from the Tikopia word ‘tatau’. The word for tattoo marks, in general, is tau, and the operation of tattooing is known as ta tau, ta being the generic term for the act of striking.

 

Paragraph D: The technique of tattooing was similar through Polynesia. Traditional tattoo artists create their indelible tattoos using pigment made from the candlenut or kukui nut. First, they burn the nut inside a bowl made of half a coconut shell. They then scrape out the soot and use a pestle to mix it with liquid. Bluing is sometimes added to counteract the reddish hue of the carbon-based pigment. It also makes the outline of the inscribed designs bolder on the dark skin of tattooing subjects.

 

Paragraph E: For the instruments used when tattooing, specialists used a range of chisels made from albatross wing bone which were hafted onto a handle which was made from the heartwood of the bush and struck with a mallet. The tattooer began by sketching with charcoal a design on the supine subject, whose skin at that location was stretched taut by one or more apprentices. The tattooer then dipped the appropriate points – either a single one or a whole comb – into the ink (usually contained in a coconut - shell cup) and tapped it into the subject’s skin, holding the blade handle in one hand and tapping it with the other. The blood that usually trickled from the punctures was wiped away either by the tattooer or his apprentice, the latter having also inevitably painful – a test of fortitude that tattooers sought to shorten by working as fast as possible. In fact, tattoos nearly always festered and often led to sickness – and in some cases death.

 

Paragraph F: In ancient Polynesian society, nearly everyone was tattooed. It was an integral part of ancient culture and was much more than a body ornament. Tattooing indicated ones' genealogy and/or rank in society. It was a sign of wealth, of strength and of the ability to endure pain. Those who went without them were seen as persons of lower social status. As such, chiefs and warriors generally had the most elaborate tattoos. Tattooing was generally begun at adolescence, and would often not be completed for a number of years. Receiving tattoos constituted an important milestone between childhood and adulthood, and was accompanied by many rites and rituals. Apart from signalling status and rank, another reason for the practice in traditional times was to make a person more attractive to the opposite sex.

 

Paragraph G: The male facial tattoo is generally divided into eight sections of the face. The centre of the forehead designated a person’s general rank. The area around the brows designated his position. The area around the eyes and the nose designated his hapu, or sub-tribe rank. The area around the temples served to detail his signature. This signature was once memorised by tribal chief's who used it when buying property, signing deeds, and officiating orders. The cheek area designated the nature of the person’s work. The chin area showed the person’s mana. Lastly, the jaw area designated a person’s birth status.

 

Paragraph H: A person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally the father’s side, and the right side is the mother’s. The manutahi design is worked on the men’s back. It consists of two vertical lines drawn down the spine, with short vertical lines between them. When a man had the manutahi on his back, he took pride in himself. At gatherings of the people he could stand forth in their midst and display his tattoo designs with songs. And rows of triangles designed on the men’s chest indicate his bravery.

 

Paragraph I: Tattoo was a way of delivering information about its owner. It’s also a traditional method to fetch spiritual power, protection and strength. The Polynesians use this as a sign of character, position and levels in a hierarchy. Polynesian people believe that a person’s mana, their spiritual power or life force, is displayed through their tattoo. 

2.

Tikopia Question & Answers

Discover exciting and informative IELTS reading answers about Tikopia

Questions and Answers 1-4
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet, write

  • YES if the statement agrees with the information given
  • NO if the statement contradicts the information given
  • NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this

   

1. Scientists like to do research in Tikopia because this tiny place is of great remoteness.

2. Firth was the first scholar to study Tikopia.

3. Firth studied the culture differences on Tikopia as well as on some other islands of the Pacific.

4. The English word ‘tattoo’ evolved from the local language of the island.

 

Tikopia Reading Answers with Explanations 1-4

 

Type of Question: Yes/No/Not Given


These types of questions involve finding whether the given statement is Yes/No/Not Given based on the given paragraph. 
 

How to best answer: 

  • Understand the exact statement provided in the question. Pay attention to keywords and phrases.
  • Quickly locate the relevant section of the passage that pertains to the statement. Look for similar words or ideas.
  • Determine if the information in the passage explicitly supports (Yes), contradicts (No), or is not mentioned at all (Not Given) in relation to the statement.
  • Base your answer solely on the information provided in the passage. Do not infer or assume details beyond what is written.
  • Ensure that your answer is accurate. A single word can change the meaning, so pay close attention to detail and context.

 

1. Yes

 

Reference:

From Paragraph B, "The small island of Tikopia, for many people – even for many Solomon Islanders – is so far away that it seems like a mythical land." 

 

Explanation: The paragraph explains that Tikopia's remoteness and unique culture have fascinated scholars, supporting the statement that scientists like to do research there because it is a remote place.

 

2. No

 

Reference:

From Paragraph B, "Like the pioneers' Peter Dillion, Dumont D’Urville and John Coleridge Patterson who visit and write about the island in the 1800s, Raymond Firth is one of those people captured by the alluring attraction of Tikopia." 

 

Explanation: This paragraph indicates that several scholars visited and wrote about Tikopia before Raymond Firth, disproving the statement that Firth was the first scholar to study Tikopia.
 

3. Not Given

 

Reference:

Not applicable

 

Explanation: The passage does not provide any information about Firth studying cultural differences on Tikopia and other Pacific islands, leaving this statement unsupported.

 

4. Yes

 

Reference:

From Paragraph C, "The origin of the English word 'tattoo’ actually comes from the Tikopia word ‘tatau’." 

 

Explanation: This sentence directly states that the English word "tattoo" is derived from the Tikopia word "tatau," confirming the statement about the evolution of the word.

Questions and Answers 5-9
  • Label the diagram below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers on boxes 5-9 in your answer sheet.

 

 

 

Tikopia Reading Answers with Explanations 5-9

 

Type of Question: Diagram Labelling
 

To answer a Diagram Labelling question in the IELTS reading section, carefully examine the diagram provided and match the labelled components or sections with the corresponding information found in the passage.

 

How to best answer: 

  • Look at the diagram carefully to understand its structure and the labels that are required.
  • Identify the part of the passage that describes the diagram or provides information about it. Look for keywords that match parts of the diagram.
  • Match keywords and phrases from the passage to the corresponding parts of the diagram. Ensure the context fits.
  • If the instructions specify using a certain number of words or phrases directly from the passage, adhere strictly to these rules.
  • Verify that each label accurately corresponds to the correct part of the diagram, ensuring logical and contextual consistency.
     
5. Coconut shell

 

Reference:

From Paragraph D, "First, they burn the nut inside a bowl made of half a coconut shell." 


Explanation: This line describes how traditional tattoo artists used coconut shells as bowls to create the pigment for tattoos, supporting the answer.
 

6. Soot

 

Reference:

From Paragraph D, "They then scrape out the soot and use a pestle to mix it with liquid." 


Explanation: The passage explains that soot is scraped out after burning the nut, indicating soot is the material obtained from the burning process.

 

7. Liquid

 

Reference:

From Paragraph D, "They then scrape out the soot and use a pestle to mix it with liquid." 


Explanation: This line explains that the soot is mixed with a liquid, confirming liquid as part of the tattoo pigment preparation.

 

8. Heartwood

 

Reference:

 From Paragraph E, "a handle which was made from the heartwood of the bush and struck with a mallet." 


Explanation: This line specifies that the handle of the tattooing instrument was made from heartwood, verifying the use of heartwood in the tattooing process.

 

9. Wing bone

 

Reference:

From Paragraph E, "a range of chisels made from albatross wing bone which were hafted onto a handle." 


Explanation: The passage describes the chisels used in tattooing being made from albatross wing bone, confirming wing bone as the material for the instruments.

Questions and Answers 10-14
  • Label the diagram below.
  • Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
  • Write your answers on boxes 10-14 in your answer sheet.

 

Location On The Body: Significance

10. ___________ of male face: General tank
11. ___________ of male face: Prestige
Female’s right side of the face: 12. ___________.

Location on the body: Significance : Geometric patterns

Male back : Sense of pride : 13.  ___________.
Male chest : Bravery : 14 ___________.

 

Tikopia Reading Answers with Explanations 10-14

 

Type of Question: Note Completion 

In the note completion questions, you need to carefully identify the missing information in the notes and locate corresponding details in the passage to complete the notes accurately.

 

How to best answer: 

  • Pay attention to the word limit and any specific guidelines provided in the instructions.
  • Identify keywords in the notes and quickly locate the relevant sections in the passage.
  • Ensure the words or phrases you select from the passage fit logically and grammatically into the notes.
  • Adhere strictly to the word limit specified in the instructions, usually no more than one, two, or three words.
  • Verify that your completed notes make sense in the context of both the passage and the notes themselves.
     
10. (the) Forehead

 

Reference:

From Paragraph G, "The centre of the forehead designated a person’s general rank." 


Explanation: This line explains that the forehead's centre indicates a person's general rank, making it the significant location on the male face.

 

11. Chin (area)

 

Reference:

Paragraph G, "The chin area showed the person’s mana." 


Explanation: This line mentions that the chin area represents mana, which signifies moral authority and prestige.

 

12. Mother’s ancestry

 

Reference:

From Paragraph H, "The left side is generally the father’s side, and the right side is the mother’s." 


Explanation: This line indicates that the right side of the face represents the mother's ancestry.


  

13. Answer: Vertical lines

 

Reference:

From Paragraph H, "It consists of two vertical lines drawn down the spine, with short vertical lines between them." 


Explanation: This description of the manutahi design on the back highlights vertical lines as a source of pride.

 

14. Triangles

 

Reference:

From Paragraph H, "And rows of triangles designed on the men’s chest indicate his bravery." 

 

Explanation: This line signifies that triangles on the chest are associated with bravery.

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FAQs

Q. How many passages are there in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test consists of three passages. These passages are designed to assess a range of reading skills, including reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, understanding inferences, and recognising a writer's opinions, attitudes, and purpose. Each passage increases in difficulty, and the test includes a variety of question types to evaluate the test-taker's comprehension abilities.


 

Q. What types of questions are included in the IELTS Reading test?

Ans.  The IELTS Reading test features a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, matching headings, matching information, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions, and true/false/not given questions. These diverse question types aim to assess a range of reading skills and comprehension strategies in different contexts.


 


 

Q. How is the IELTS Reading test scored?

Ans. The IELTS Reading test is scored based on the number of correct answers out of 40 questions. Each correct answer receives one mark, and the total score is converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Both the Academic and General Training versions have their own conversion tables, ensuring that scores accurately reflect a candidate's reading ability. The final band score ranges from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert user), with half-band increments.