Reading Exercise: Exploring beyond the azure horizon

A significant archaeological find on Efate Island in the Vanuatu archipelago in the Pacific has revealed evidence of ancient seafarers, the distant ancestors of today's Polynesians. The discovery occurred unexpectedly when an agricultural worker, digging in the grounds of an abandoned plantation, inadvertently unearthed a burial site – the first of many in a cemetery dating back some 3,000 years. This is the oldest known burial ground in the Pacific islands, containing the remains of an ancient people known as the Lapita by archaeologists.

These were intrepid ocean explorers who used simple canoes to traverse the seas. They were not merely adventurers, but also pioneers who brought with them all they needed to establish new lives – their livestock, taro plants, and stone tools. Over several centuries, the Lapita expanded their horizons from the volcanic jungles of Papua New Guinea to the remote coral atolls of Tonga.

The Lapita left few traces of their existence, but Efate has significantly expanded the available data for researchers. Excavations have uncovered the remains of 62 individuals so far, along with six intact Lapita pottery vessels. Among the discoveries was a Lapita burial jar adorned with modeled birds encircling the rim, seemingly watching over the human remains within. 'This discovery is crucial,' notes Matthew Spriggs, professor of archaeology at the Australian National University and leader of the international excavation team. 'It definitively identifies these remains as belonging to the Lapita culture.'

DNA extracted from these human remains might help solve a perplexing question in Pacific anthropology: did all Pacific Islanders originate from a single source or multiple? Was there just one migration from a single point in Asia, or several from different points? ‘This represents our best chance yet,’ says Spriggs, ‘to uncover who the Lapita truly were, where they came from, and who their closest descendants are today.’

There remains one challenging question that archaeology has yet to answer: how did the Lapita achieve what was akin to ancient moon landings, repeatedly? No one has discovered any of their canoes or rigging, which could reveal their sailing methods. Nor do the oral histories and traditions of later Polynesians provide any insights, as they transform into myths long before reaching back to the time of the Lapita.

‘All we can assert is that the Lapita possessed canoes capable of oceanic voyages, and they possessed the skill to navigate them,’ states Geoff Irwin, a professor of archaeology at the University of Auckland. These seafaring skills, he asserts, were honed and passed down over millennia by earlier sailors who traversed the archipelagos of the western Pacific, making short crossings to neighboring islands. Yet the true adventure began when their Lapita descendants sailed beyond the sight of land, with vast empty horizons in every direction. This would have been as challenging for them as a moon landing is for us today. Certainly, it set them apart from their ancestors, but what gave them the courage to embark on such perilous voyages?

The thrust of Lapita expansion into the Pacific was eastward, against the prevailing trade winds, notes Irwin. These persistent headwinds, he argues, may have been key to their success. ‘They could venture forth for days into the unknown, survey the surroundings, confident that if they found nothing, they could turn back and catch a swift return on the trade winds. This was what could have made the entire enterprise viable.’ Once there, skilled navigators would have detected abundant clues to land: seabirds, drifting coconuts and twigs carried by the currents, and the afternoon accumulation of clouds on the horizon, often signaling an island in the distance.

For returning explorers, whether successful or not, the geography of their own archipelagos would have provided a safety net. Without this familiarity, overshooting their home ports, becoming lost, and sailing off into the unknown would have been all too easy. Take Vanuatu, for instance, stretching over 500 miles in a northwest-southeast direction, its numerous visible islands forming a backdrop for mariners navigating the trade winds back home.

All of this assumes one crucial detail, according to Atholl Anderson, professor of prehistory at the Australian National University: the Lapita had mastered the advanced skill of sailing against the wind. ‘Yet there is no evidence they could achieve such a feat,’ Anderson argues. ‘There has been an assumption they could, and people have constructed canoes to reenact those early voyages based on that belief. But no one knows what their canoes looked like or how they were rigged.’

Rather than attributing all success to human skill, Anderson suggests that chance played a role. El Niño, the same climate disruption affecting the Pacific today, may have assisted in dispersing the Lapita. Anderson notes that climate data from slow-growing corals across the Pacific indicate a series of unusually frequent El Niños during the Lapita expansion period. By reversing the typical east-to-west flow of trade winds for weeks at a time, these extreme El Niños could have unintentionally taken the Lapita on extended voyages.

Regardless of how they accomplished it, the Lapita extended their reach a third of the way across the Pacific before halting, for reasons known only to them. Ahead lay the vast expanse of the central Pacific, and perhaps they were too thinly spread to venture further. Their population likely never exceeded a few thousand in total, and during their rapid eastward migration, they encountered hundreds of islands – over 300 in Fiji alone.

Questions 27-31

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

Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 37-31 on your sheet.

The Éfaté burial site

A 3,000-year-old burial ground of a seafaring people called the Lapita has been found on an abandoned 27……………. on the Pacific island of Efate. The cemetery, which is a significant 28…………….. , was uncovered accidentally by an agricultural worker.

The Lapita explored and colonised many Pacific islands over several centuries. They took many things with them on their voyages including 29……………… and tools.

The burial ground increases the amount of information about the Lapita available to scientists. A team of researchers, led by Matthew Spriggs from the Australian National University, are helping with the excavation of the site. Spriggs believes the 30……………….  which was found at the site is very important since it confirms that the 31……………… found inside are Lapita.

A     proof

B plantation

C     harbour

D bones

E data

F archaeological discovery

G burial urn

H source

I      animals

J maps

Questions 32-35

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 32-35 on your answer sheet.

32 According to the writer, there are difficulties explaining how the Lapita accomplished their journeys because

A   the canoes that have been discovered offer relatively few clues.

B   archaeologists have shown limited interest in this area of research.

C   little information relating to this period can be relied upon for accuracy.

D   technological advances have altered the way such achievements are viewed.

33    According to the sixth paragraph, what was extraordinary about the Lapita?

A   They sailed beyond the point where land was visible.

B   Their cultural heritage discouraged the expression of fear.

C   They were able to build canoes that withstood ocean voyages.

D   Their navigational skills were passed on from one generation to the next.

34    What does ‘This’ refer to in the seventh paragraph?

A   the Lapita’s seafaring talent

B   the Lapita s ability to detect signs of land

C   the Lapita’s extensive knowledge of the region

D   the Lapita’s belief they would be able to return home

35   According to the eighth paragraph, how was the geography of the region significant?

A   It played an important role in Lapita culture.

B   It meant there were relatively few storms at sea.

C   It provided a navigational aid for the Lapita.

D   It made a large number of islands habitable.

Questions 36-40

Are the following statements consistent with the author's views in Reading Passage 3?

In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet, write

YES              if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO               if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

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

36   It is now clear that the Lapita could sail into a prevailing wind.

37   Extreme climate conditions may have played a role in Lapita migration.

38   The Lapita learnt to predict the duration of El Ninos.

39   It remains unclear why the Lapita halted their expansion across the Pacific.

40   It is likely that the majority of Lapita settled on Fiji.

Answers: 

27. B – plantation (Đoạn 1, “An agricultural worker, digging in the grounds of a derelict plantation, scraped open a grave – the first of dozens in a burial ground some 3,000 years old.” → derelict = abandon)

28. F – archaeological discovery(Đoạn 1, “An important archaeological discovery on the island of Efate in the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu has revealed traces of an ancient seafaring people”)

29. I – animals (Đoạn 2, “But they were not just explorers. They were also pioneers who carried with them everything they would need to build new lives – their livestock, taro seedlings and stone tools. → livestock: gia súc = animals).

30. G

31. D

(Đoạn 3, “Other items included a Lapita burial urn with modeled birds arranged on the rim as though peering down at the human remains sealed inside. ‘It’s an important discovery,’ says Matthew Spriggs, professor of archaeology at the Australian National University and head of the international team digging up the site, ‘for it conclusively identifies the remains as Lapita.’ → Human remains = bones)

32. C (Đoạn 5, thể hiện việc có rất ít thông tin để dựa vào để xác thực)

33. A (Đoạn 6, “The real adventure didn’t begin, however, until their Lapita descendants sailed out of sight of land, with empty horizons on every side. This must have been as difficult for them as landing on the moon is for us today.” → Chèo ra xa khỏi điểm nhìn thấy đất liền)

34. D (Đoạn 7, “‘They could sail out for days into the unknown and assess the area, secure in the knowledge that if they didn’t find anything, they could turn about and catch a swift ride back on the trade winds. This is what would have made the whole thing work.’ → Niềm tin rằng có thể quay trở về)

35. C (Đoạn 8, “For returning explorers, successful or not, the geography of their own archipelagoes would have provided a safety net. Without this to go by, overshooting their home ports, getting lost and sailing off into eternity would have been all too easy.” → Trợ giúp định vị cho Lapita)

36. NO (Đoạn 9, “All this presupposes one essential detail, says Atholl Anderson, professor of prehistory at the Australian National University: the Lapita had mastered the advanced art of sailing against the wind. ‘And there’s no proof they could do any such thing,’ Anderson says → Không có bằng chứng)

37. YES (Đoạn 10, “Rather than give all the credit to human skill, Anderson invokes the winds of chance. El Nino, the same climate disruption that affects the Pacific today, may have helped scatter the Lapita, Anderson suggests.” → Thời tiết cực đoan là nhân tố dẫn đến sự di cư)

38. NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin về việc dự đoán thời gian diễn ra El Nino)