‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named ‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’, which is from the Cambridge 13 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘finding information, Blanks and finding researchers name. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 3: Whatever happened to Harappan Civilisation?
| Question | Answer |
| 27 | C |
| 28 | H |
| 29 | A |
| 30 | B |
| 31 | D |
| 32 | SHELLS |
| 33 | LAKE |
| 34 | RAINFALL |
| 35 | GRAINS |
| 36 | POTTERY |
| 37 | B |
| 38 | A |
| 39 | D |
| 40 | A |
Questions 27-31
Reading Passage 3 has eight paragraphs, A-H.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-H, in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once
27 proposed explanations for the decline of the Harappan Civilisation
Location and Answer: C
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘ Some have claimed that major glacier-fed rivers changed their course, dramatically affecting the water supply and agriculture; or that the cities could not cope with an increasing population…’Here, this statement is a proposed explanations for the decline.
28 reference to a present-day application of some archaeological research findings
Location and Answer: H
Explanation: The main keyword ‘archaeological research’ helps to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘By investigating responses to environmental pressures and threats, we can learn from the past to engage with the public…’Here, ‘investigating’ and ‘findings’ are synonyms. Moreover, their investigating techniques were modern or present-day application.
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
29 a difference between the Harappan Civilisation and another culture of the same period.
Location and Answer: A
Explanation: This question can be answered after reading the whole paragraph. ‘The Harappan Civilisation was a sophisticated Bronze Age society who built ‘megacities’ and traded internationally in luxury craft products… But their lack of self-imagery – at a time when the Egyptians were carving…’Thus, the answer is A.
30 a description of some features of Harappan urban design
Location and Answer: B
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘urban design’ and its reference is there in the second line of the paragraph. ‘As populations increased, cities were built that had great baths, craft workshops, palaces and halls laid out in distinct sectors…’Here, ‘cities’ and ‘urban’ are synonyms. Moreover, cities were built that had great baths, craft workshops are the features of urban design.
31 reference to the discovery of errors made by previous archaeologists.
Location and Answer: D
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘. They realised that any attempts to use the existing data were likely to be fundamentally flawed…’Here, ‘Flawed’ means ‘mistakes’ Thus, the answer is clear.
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
Questions 32-36
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 32-36 on your answer sheet.
Looking at evidence of climate change
Yama Dixit and David Hodell have found the first definitive evidence of climate change affecting the plains of north-western India thousands of years ago. By collecting the 32………………………… of snails and analysing them,
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘snails’ help to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘. The researchers gathered shells of Melanoides tuberculate snails from the sediments of an ancient lake and used geochemical analysis…’Here, ‘gathered ‘collecting’ means the same. Hence, the answer is ‘Shells’
Answer: Shells
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
they discovered evidence of a change in water levels in a 33……………………….. in the region.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the ‘But we have observed that there was an abrupt change…when the amount of evaporation from the lake exceeded the rainfall – indicative of a drought.’ Here, ‘discovered’ and ‘observed’ means the same. In addition, ‘amount of evaporation from the lake exceeded’ refers to the change in water levels in lakes.
Answer: Lakes
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
This occurred when there was less 34…………………………….. than evaporation, and suggests that there was an extended period of drought.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the second last line of the paragraph. ‘But we have observed that there was an abrupt change … when the amount of evaporation from the lake exceeded the rainfall – indicative of a drought.’ Here, evaporation is more than the rainfall. Thus, the answer is ‘Rainfall’
Answer: Rainfall
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
Petrie and Singh’s team are using archaeological records to look at 35…………………………… from five millennia ago, in order to know whether people had adapted their agricultural practices to changing climatic conditions.
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The main keywords ‘Petrie and Singh’ and ‘five millennia’ helps to locate the answer in the second line of the paragraph. ‘understand details of how people led their lives in the region five millennia ago. They are analysing grains cultivated at the time…’Here, ‘analysing’ means ‘to look at’. Furthermore, ‘five millennia’ is a time period.
Answer: Grains
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
They are also examining objects including 36………………………….. , so as to find out about links between inhabitants of different parts of the region and whether these changed over time.
Location: G paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second last line of the paragraph. ‘They are also looking at whether the types of pottery used, and other aspects of their material culture…’Here, ‘examining objects’ means ‘looking at’. Moreover, this line makes it clear that they are examining objects including pottery.
Answer: Pottery
Questions 37-40
Complete the summary below.
Look at the following statements (Questions 38-40) and the list of researchers below.
Match each statement with the correct researcher, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 37-40 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
37 Finding further information about changes to environmental conditions in the region is vital.
Location: F paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘environmental conditions’ and its reference is there in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Considering the vast area of the Harappan Civilisation with its variable weather systems,’ explains Singh…’Here, ‘changes to environmental conditions’ means ‘variable weather systems…’Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: B
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
38 Examining previous patterns of behaviour may have long-term benefits.
Location: H paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘long-term benefits’ and its reference is there in the last two lines of the paragraph. ‘we can learn from the past to engage with the public…, to be more proactive in issues such as the management and administration of water supply…preserving cultural heritage in the future.’ Here, ‘previous ’ means ‘past’. Furthermore, ‘proactive in issues…’ refers to the long-term benefits.
Answer: A
39 Rough calculations indicate the approximate length of a period of water shortage.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Hodell adds: We estimate that the weakening of the Indian summer monsoon climate lasted about 200 years before …’Here, ‘rough calculations’ has been written as ‘estimate’ in the paragraph. Furthermore, ‘lasted about 200 years=length of a period.
Answer: D
‘Whatever happened to the Harappan Civilisation?’- Reading Answer Explanation- CAM- 13.
40 Information about the decline of the Harappan Civilisation has been lacking.
Location: B paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the first line of the paragraph. ‘There is plenty of archaeological evidence to tell us about the rise of the Harappan Civilisation, but relatively little about its fall,’ explains archaeologist Dr Cameron Petrie. Here, ‘little’=lacking, fall=decline. Thus, the answer is A.
Answer: A
List of Researchers
A Cameron Petrie
B Ravindanath Singh
C Yama Dixit
D David Hodell
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