This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Reading Test 2 Reading Passage 1 titled ‘The White Horse of Uffington’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you to the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The title of the passage: The White Horse of Uffington

Questions 1-8: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN

For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 1: Most geoglyphs in England are located in a particular area of the country.   

Keywords for the question: Most geoglyphs, England, located, particular area,  

The answer is in lines 2-3 of paragraph no. 1, where the writer of the text says, “ . . .. There are 56 hill figures scattered around England, with the vast majority on the chalk downlands of the country’s southern counties. . . .. .. ..”

Here, the vast majority = Most geoglyphs, country’s southern counties = a particular area of the country,  

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 2: There are more geoglyphs in the shape of a horse than any other creature.  

Keywords for the question: more geoglyphs, shape of a horse, than, any other creature,

We do not find any information regarding any comparison among geoglyphs of horses and other shapes in different cultures.   

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 3: A recent dating of the Uffington White Horse indicates that people were mistaken about its age.  

Keywords for the question: recent dating, Uffington White Horse, indicates, people, mistaken about, its age,  

Lines 1-3 of paragraph no. 2 give the answer to this question. The writer says here, “The most famous of these figures is perhaps also the most mysterious – the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire. The White Horse has recently been re-dated and shown to be even older than its previously assigned ancient pre-Roman Iron Age date. . . .. .” 

Here, recently been re-dated = a recent dating,
to be even older than its previously assigned ancient pre-Roman Iron Age date = people were mistaken about its age,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question no. 4: Historians have come to an agreement about the origins of the Long Man of Wilmington.

Keywords for the question: Historians, come to an agreement, origins, Long Man of Wilmington,   

Lines 3-6 of paragraph no. 2 says, “  . .. . . . More controversial is the date of the enigmatic Long Man of Wilmington in Sussex. While many historians are convinced the figure is pre-historic, others believe that it was the work of an artistic monk from a nearby priory and was created between the 11th and 15th centuries.”  

Here, the lines indicate that while many historians believe that the Long man of Wilmington was pre-historic, others believe that it was between the 11th and 15th centuries.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 5: Geoglyphs were created by people placing white chalk on the hillside.  

Keywords for the question: Geoglyphs, created by people, placing white chalk, hillside,  

The first lines of paragraph no. 3 have the answer. Here, the writer says, “The method of cutting these huge figures was simply to remove the overlying grass to reveal the gleaming white chalk below. . .. … ..”

Here, The method of cutting these huge figures = geoglyphs were created, to remove the overlying grass = cutting the grass,

These lines clearly suggest that people created the geoglyphs by cutting the grass that covered the white chalk, NOT by placing white chalk on the hillside.  

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question no. 6: Many geoglyphs in England are no longer visible.    

Keywords for the question: many geoglyphs, England, no longer visible,   

In paragraph no. 3, take a look at line no. 4, “ . . .. . One reason that the vast majority of hill figures have disappeared is that . .. . …”

Here, vast majority of hill figures = many geoglyphs, have disappeared = no longer visible,

So, the answer is: TRUE  

Question no. 7: The shape of some geoglyphs has been altered over time.     

Keywords for the question: shape of some geoglyphs, altered, over time,  

Again, in paragraph no. 3, lines 6-8 say, “ . . …. . . Furthermore, over hundreds of years, the outlines would sometimes change due to people not always cutting in exactly the same place, thus creating a different shape to the original geoglyph. .. .. ..” 

Here, creating a different shape = the shape altered, over hundreds of years = over time,  

So, the answer is: TRUE  

Question no. 8: The fame of the Uffington White Horse is due to its size.     

Keywords for the question: fame, Uffington White Horse, due to, its size,    

Paragraphs no. 4, 5, and 6 talk about the details of the Uffington White Horse. However, we do not find any information regarding the fame of the Horse due to its size.  

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN  

Questions 9-13: Completing notes

[In this type of question, candidates must complete different notes with ONE WORD ONLY from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should keep in mind that the questions sometimes do not maintain the sequence. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Title of the notes: The Uffington White Horse

Question no. 9:

• near an ancient road known as the __________

Keywords for the question: location, distance of 2.5 km, from Uffington village, near, ancient road, known as,   

Read paragraph no. 4 carefully. Here, in lines 3-5, the author of the text says, “ . . .. .. The horse is situated 2.5 km from Uffington village on a steep slope close to the late Bronze Age (c. 7th century BCE) hillfort of Uffington Castle and below the Ridgeway, a long-distance Neolithic track.”

Here, The horse = The Uffington White Horse, situated = location, below = near, Neolithic track = ancient road,

So, the answer is: Ridgeway  

Question no. 10:

• first reference to White Horse Hill appears in __________ from the 1070s

Keywords for the question: Dating, first reference, White Horse Hill, appears in, 1070s,    

If we look at paragraph no. 6, in the beginning, the writer says, “The earliest evidence of a horse at Uffington is from the 1070s CE when ‘White Horse Hill’ is mentioned in documents from the nearby Abbey of Abingdon, . . .. .. ..”

Here, The earliest evidence = first reference, mentioned = appears in,

So, the answer is: documents   

Question no. 11:

• according to analysis of the surrounding __________, the Horse is Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age

Keywords for the question: according to analysis, surrounding, the Horse, Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age,   

In paragraph no. 7, lines 1-4 mention, “However, in 1995 Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) testing was carried out by the Oxford Archaeological Unit on soil from two of the lower layers of the horse’s body, and from anther cut near the base. The result was a date for the horse’s construction somewhere between 1400 and 600 BCS – in other words, it had a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age origin.”

Here, Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) testing = according to analysis, two of the lower layers of the horse’s body = surroundings,   

So, the answer is: soil  

Question no. 12:

• was a representation of goddess Epona – associated with protection of horses and ________

Keywords for the question: Possible reasons, creation of, Uffington White Horse, representation, goddess Epona, protection of horses,

The answer lies in paragraph no. 8, where the writer says in lines 4-6, “  . . . . Some researchers see the horse as representing the Celtic horse goddess Epona, who was worshipped as a protector of horses, and for her associations with fertility. .. .. ..”

Here, protector of horses = association with protection of horses,

So, the answer is: fertility  

Question no. 13:

• was a representation of a Welsh goddess called ________

Keywords for the question: representation of, Welsh goddess, called,   

Lines 9-11 in paragraph no. 8 say, “. … It is possible that the carving represents a goddess in native mythology, such as Rhiannon, described in later Welsh mythology as a beautiful woman dressed in gold and riding a white horse.”

Here, represents = representation,

So, the answer is: Rhiannon  

Click here for solutions to passage 2: I Contain Multitudes

Click here for solutions to passage 3: How to make wise decisions