ANSWERS
1. Answer – TRUE
Explanation: The answer to this question is found in Paragraph A of the Reading passage. At the beginning of the passage, the author mentions that the pyramids of Giza were built at least three thousand years ago, as is believed. The following statement mentions the number of workers or slaves (as the passage puts it) needed to build it. The number amounts to somewhere around the thousands. The statement confirms that many people were required to build the pyramids.
2. Answer – FALSE
Explanation: Paragraph A of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers IELTS sample offers the answer to this question. Towards the middle of the paragraph, the author discusses an archaeologist called Clemmons. He reveals that this archaeologist found a strange hieroglyph while reading a book on the different Egyptian monuments. Hence, the statement is false because the hieroglyph was not found on the wall of an Egyptian monument.
3. Answer – NOT GIVEN
Explanation: In Paragraph B of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers IELTS sample, the author mentions Clemmons contacting Morteza Gharib, a California Institute of Technology's aeronautics professor. The author mentions that Gharib was keen on the strange hieroglyph or bird-like objects in the sky with wings. However, no mention was made of whether Gharib had done previous experiments on a bird’s flight. Hence, it is not given.
4. Answer – TRUE
Explanation: The Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers' Paragraph C provides the answer to this question. We notice that from the beginning of the paragraph, the author offers insights into the whereabouts of Graff and Gharib. The two set to the mammoth task of raising a 4.5m stone column without external help except for the wind's energy. The following lines talk about the results of such an experiment. So, it is true that Graff and Gharib tested their theory before applying it to practice.
5. Answer – FALSE
Explanation: Paragraph E of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers IELTS sample has the answer to this question. In this paragraph, the author discusses the wind conditions when Graff and Gharib conducted their experiment. From the beginning, the author talks about the strength of the wind force that the two had yet to consider. Moving further, the paragraph talks about how the strong initial force of the wind can even help lift a 300-tonne column. So, the high wind force successfully built Egyptian pyramids, but not in Graff and Gharib’s experiment. So, the statement is false.
6. Answer – NOT GIVEN
Explanation: Again, we need to look at Paragraph E of the Reading sample. In this paragraph, the author talks about wind force and how lightweight kites can lift a 300-tonne column simply because of the huge initial force. It is all about Graff and Gharib’s experiment. However, no such details are mentioned anywhere in the paragraph or the passage regarding the wind force increasing as the kite's elevation increased.
7. Answer – TRUE
Explanation: Even this question's answer may be found in Paragraph E of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids IELTS Reading sample. After the author mentions the experiment, Gharib and Graff conducted to test wind force. As the paragraph progresses, the author also mentions that high wind force could even enable kites to lift heavy stones in the air, as heavy as 300 tonnes. So, the statement is true.
8. Answer: (wooden)
Explanation: In Paragraph F of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers IELTS sample, the author talks about sailors and how they would lift huge stones with the help of wooden pulleys. This is to explain that they would have had no problem utilizing the energy of the wind to lift weights.
9. Answer 9 – (Stone)
Explanation: This question's answer may be found in Paragraph F of the Reading Answers. From the beginning of the passage, the author talks about many speculations regarding the kite-weightlifting theory being nonexistent and questionable. The following statement mentions how sailors would have efficiently utilized wind energy through wooden pulleys to lift heavy blocks of stone.
Answer 10 – (Accomplished) sailors
Explanation: Just like the answer for the previous two questions, this answer may also be found in Paragraph F of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers IELTS sample. The author mainly mentions how wooden pulleys could lift heavy stones in this paragraph. The beginning of the paragraph makes it clear that the ones harnessing wind energy would be sailors.
Answer 11, 12, 13 – (Modern) Glider, Flight, Messages
Explanation: The answer to the three questions is found in Paragraph F of the Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids Reading Answers. In this paragraph, the author talks about the pyramid of Saqqara. Towards the middle of the paragraph, the mention of a wooden artefact found on the Saqqara pyramid's steps. The author mentions that this artefact resembled a modern glider. The paragraph ends with mentioning that the Egyptians may have been aware of the secrets of flight and that civilizations knew kite flying as ancient as 1250 BC. An example of the Chinese is given, who used kites to throw flaming debris at their enemies and send messages.
Conclusion
The passage “Pulling Strings to Build Pyramids” highlights how modern experiments can provide fresh insights into ancient engineering. It blends science and history to explain pyramid construction, making it an ideal IELTS practice text for improving comprehension and analytical reading skills.
