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IELTS Listening Test - Thor Heyerdahl

IELTS Listening Test

Listen to the recording and answer the questions below.

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO hobbies was Thor Heyerdahl very interested in as a youth?

A. camping

B. climbing

C. collecting

D. hunting

E. reading

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which do the speakers say are the TWO reasons why Heyerdahl went to live on an island?

A. to examine ancient carvings

B. to experience an isolated place

C. to formulate a new theory

D. to learn survival skills

E. to study the impact of an extreme environment

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

The later life of Thor Heyerdahl

25. According to Victor and Olivia, academics thought that Polynesian migration from the east was impossible due to

A. the fact that Eastern countries were far away

B. the lack of materials for boat building

C. the direction of the winds and currents

26. Which do the speakers agree was the main reason for Heyerdahl's raft journey?

A. to overcome a research setback

B. to demonstrate a personal quality

C. to test a new theory

27. What was most important to Heyerdahl about his raft journey?

A. the fact that he was the first person to do it

B. the speed of crossing the Pacific

C. the use of authentic construction methods

28. Why did Heyerdahl go to Easter Island?

A. to build a stone statue

B. to sail a reed boat

C. to learn the local language

29. In Olivia's opinion, Heyerdahl's greatest influence was on

A. theories about Polynesian origins

B. the development of archaeological methodology

C. establishing archaeology as an academic subject

30. Which criticism do the speakers make of William Oliver's textbook?

A. Its style is out of date

B. Its content is over-simplified

C. Its methodology is flawed