This IELTS Academic Reading post provides complete solutions to IELTS Reading Test 2, Passage 1, titled “Stonehenge,” along with clear answers and detailed explanations. It is specially designed for IELTS candidates who find it difficult to locate, understand, and verify answers in the Academic Reading (AC) module. This guide will help you understand each answer step by step, improve your reading comprehension, and develop effective strategies for finding the correct answers. With regular practice and a clear understanding of the explanations, you can strengthen your IELTS Academic Reading skills and prepare more confidently for the IELTS Reading test.

IELTS Test 2: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 1: Questions 1-13

The title of the passage: Stonehenge

Questions 1-8: Completing notes

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete different notes with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should not be surprised if the sequence is not maintained. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Question no. 1: Construction

Stage 1: the ditch and henge were dug, possibly using tools made from ________ .

Keywords for the question: construction, stage 1, ditch, henge, were dug, possibly, tools made from,

The mention of the word ‘tools’ can be found in paragraph no. 2, where the writer of the text says in lines 2-4, “ . . .. First, Neolithic* Britons used primitive tools, which may have been fashioned out of deer antlers, to dig a massive circular ditch and bank, or henge.. . . .. .. ..”

Here, to dig = were dug, ditch and bank, or henge = ditch and henge, used primitive tools = using tools, may = possibly, fashioned out of = made from,

So, the answer is: (deer) antlers

Question no. 2: _________ may have been arranged in deep pits inside the circle.  

Keywords for the question: stage 1, may have been arranged, deep pits, inside, circle,

In paragraph no. 2, lines 4-5 say, “ .. . .. .. .. Deep pits dating back to that era and located within the circle may have once held a ring of timber posts, according to some scholars.”   

Here, located within the circle = inside the circle,

So, the answer is: (timber) posts

Question no. 3: Stage 2:

• bluestones from the Preseli Hills were placed in standing position
• theories about the transportation of the bluestones:
• archaeological:

– builders used ________ to make sledges and rollers

Keywords for the question: stage 2, bluestones, Preseli Hills, theories, transportation, archaeological, builders, used, make sledges, rollers,

Lines 1-2 of paragraph no. 4 gives answer to this question. The writer says here, “ ..  ..  According to one long-standing theory among archaeologists, Stonehenge’s builders fashioned sledges and rollers out of tree trunks to lug the bluestones from the Preseli Hills. . . . . .. .” 

Here, fashioned sledges and rollers = make sledges and rollers,

So, the answer is: tree trunks

Question no. 4: ________ pulled them on giant baskets

Keywords for the question: pulled, on, giant baskets,    

Lines 5-7 of paragraph no. 4 says, “  . .. . . . More recent archaeological hypotheses have them transporting the bluestones with supersized wicker baskets on a combination of ball bearings and long grooved planks, hauled by oxen.”  

Here, supersized wicker baskets = giant baskets, hauled = pulled,

So, the answer is: oxen

Question no. 5: geological:

• they were brought from Wales by _______

Keywords for the question: geological, brought from, Wales, by,

In lines 2-4 of paragraph no. 5, the writer says, “ .. .. .. . Challenging the classic image of industrious builders pushing, carting, rolling or hauling giant stones from faraway Wales, some scientists have suggested that it was glaciers, not humans, that carried the bluestones to Salisbury Plain. . . .. … ..”

Here, carried the bluestones = they were brought,

These lines suggest that the other theory about the transportation of the bluestones by some geological scientists was that they were carried to Salisbury Plain by glaciers.

So, the answer is: glaciers

Question no. 6: Builders

• a theory arose in the 17th century that its builders were Celtic ________

Keywords for the question: theory, arose, 17th century, builders were, Celtic,

The answer is in paragraph no. 7 as we can find the word ‘Celtic’ here. Take a look at lines 1-3, “ . . .. . In the 17th century, archaeologist John Aubrey made the claim that Stonehenge was the work of druids, who had important religious, judicial and political roles in Celtic** society. . .. . …”

Here, made the claim = a theory arose,

So, the answer is: druids   

Question no. 7: Purpose

• many experts agree it has been used as a ________ site

Keywords for the question: purpose, many experts agree, used as a, site,

In paragraph no. 9, lines 2-4 say, “ . . …. . . While there is consensus among the majority of modern scholars that Stonehenge once served the function of burial ground, they have yet to determine what other purposes it had.” 

Here, the majority of modern scholars = many experts agree, served the function = has been used as, ground = site,  

So, the answer is: burial  

Question no. 8: in the 1960s, it was suggested that it worked as a kind of _________      

Keywords for the question: in the 1960s, was suggested, worked, as a kind of,    

In paragraph no. 10, lines 1-2 say, “In the 1960s, the astronomer Gerald Hawkins suggested that the cluster of megalithic stones operated as a form of calendar, … . … .”

Here, the cluster of megalithic stones = it, operated as, a form of = a kind of,

So, the answer is: calendar   

Questions 9-13: 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. This question type generally follows a sequence. So, scanning skill is effective here.]

Question no. 9: During the third phase of construction, sandstone slabs were placed in both the outer areas and the middle of the Stonehenge site.

Keywords for the question: third phase of construction, sandstone slabs, placed in, both, outer areas, middle of, Stonehenge site,    

 Read paragraph no. 6 carefully. Here, in lines 1-4, the author describes the third phase of the construction, “The third phase of construction took place around 2000 BCE. At this point, sandstone slabs – known as ‘sarsens’ – were arranged into an outer crescent or ring; some were assembled into the iconic three-pieced structures called trilithons that stand tall in the centre of Stonehenge. .. .. .. .”

Here, an outer crescent = the outer areas, the centre of Stonehenge = the middle of the Stonehenge site,

So, the answer is: TRUE  

Question no. 10: There is scientific proof that the bluestones stood in the same spot until approximately 1600 BCE.

Keywords for the question: scientific proof, bluestones, stood, same spot, until, approximately, 1600 BCE,     

 If we look at paragraph no. 6, in lines 5-7, the writer says, “ .. . .. .. Radiocarbon dating has revealed that work continued at Stonehenge until roughly 1600 BCE, with the bluestones in particular being repositioned multiple times. . . .. .. ..”

Here, Radiocarbon dating = scientific proof, roughly = approximately, being repositioned multiple times = DID NOT stand in the same spot,

So, the lines contradict the information in the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE   

Question no. 11: John Aubrey’s claim about Stonehenge was supported by 20th-century findings.

Keywords for the question: John Aubrey’s, claim, Stonehenge, supported by, 20th-century, findings,    

In paragraph no. 7, the answer can be found, as the writer says, “ .. . . .. . In the 17th century, archaeologist John Aubrey made the claim that Stonehenge was the work of druids, who had important religious, judicial and political roles in Celtic** society. This theory was widely popularized by the antiquarian William Stukeley, who had unearthed primitive graves at the site. Even today, people who identify as modern druids continue to gather at Stonehenge for the summer solstice. However, in the mid-20th century, radiocarbon dating demonstrated that Stonehenge stood more than 1,000 years before the Celts inhabited the region.”

Here, radiocarbon dating demonstrated that Stonehenge stood more than 1,000 years before the Celts inhabited the region = this is the OPPOSITE of John Aubrey’s claim about Stonehenge,

So, the answer is: FALSE  

Question no. 12: Objects discovered at Stonehenge seem to indicate that it was constructed by a number of different groups of people.

Keywords for the question: objects, discovered, seem to indicate, constructed by, a number of, different groups of people,

The answer lies in paragraph no. 8, where the writer says in lines 1-4, “Many modern historians and archaeologists now agree that several distinct tribes of people contributed to Stonehenge, each undertaking a different phase of its construction. Bones, tools and other artefacts found on the site seem to support this hypothesis. . .. .. .. ..”

Here, several distinct tribes of people contributed to Stonehenge = it was constructed by a number of different groups of people,

Bones, tools and other artefacts found on the site = objects discovered at Stonehenge, seem to support = seem to indicate,

So, the answer is: TRUE  

Question no. 13: Criticism of Gerald Hawkins’ theory about Stonehenge has come mainly from other astronomers.

Keywords for the question: criticism, Gerald Hawkins’ theory, about Stonehenge, come, mainly from, other astronomers,     

The writer says in paragraph no. 9, “In the 1960s, the astronomer Gerald Hawkins suggested that the cluster of megalithic stones operated as a form of calendar, with different points corresponding to astrological phenomena such as solstices, equinoxes and eclipses occurring at different times of the year. While his theory has received a considerable amount of attention over the decades, critics maintain that Stonehenge’s builders probably lacked the knowledge necessary to predict such events or that England’s dense cloud cover would have obscured their view of the skies.”

Here, the paragraph suggests that Gerald Hawkins himself was an astronomer. However, WE DO NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION about who his critics were.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN   

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