Stonehenge Reading Answers

The IELTS Reading section includes different passages followed by questions that test your ability to understand information, identify specific details, and recognise paraphrased ideas. If you're looking for Stonehenge IELTS reading answers, then this is exactly the passage you need to practise. 

The Stonehenge Reading Passage looks at how the ancient monument was built, who may have built it, and why it was built in the first place. It walks through the different construction stages. The theories around how the massive bluestones were transported and the ongoing debate over their purpose. The passage contains 11 paragraphs and covers Questions 1 to 13.

This text comes from Cambridge IELTS 18, an official practice book published by Cambridge University Press that uses real past IELTS papers. So if you're checking the Stonehenge reading answers for the Cambridge 18 version, this is the exact passage and question set you'll find there. 

The questions test a mix of skills too:, locating specific information, completing notes with the right words from the passage, spotting paraphrased ideas, and figuring out whether a statement agrees with, contradicts, or just isn't covered by the passage at all.

Stonehenge Reading Answers IELTS Passage

The Stonehenge Reading Passage in the IELTS exam looks at the history and mystery behind one of Britain's most famous prehistoric monuments. It talks about how Stonehenge got built, where its huge stones might've come from, and the different theories on who actually built it.

The passage also gets into why Stonehenge was built in the first place. Some think it was a burial ground. Some think it worked like a calendar, while others even think it was a place people went to for healing. These little details matter a lot when you're working through the Stonehenge IELTS reading answers. Because that's how you trace back exactly where each answer comes from in the passage.

The passage runs across 11 paragraphs and covers Questions 1 to 13.

Stonehenge Reading Answers IELTS Passage

Paragraph 1: For centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the many mysteries of Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument that took an estimated 1,500 years to erect. Located on Salisbury Plain in southern England, it comprises roughly 100 massive upright stones placed in a circular layout.

Paragraph 2: Archaeologists believe England’s most iconic prehistoric ruin was built in several stages, with the earliest constructed 5,000 or more years ago. 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. 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.

Paragraph 3: Several hundred years later, it is thought, Stonehenge’s builders hoisted an estimated 80 bluestones, 43 of which remain today, into standing positions and placed them in either a horseshoe or circular formation. These stones have been traced all the way to the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 300 kilometres from Stonehenge. How, then, did prehistoric builders without sophisticated tools or engineering haul these boulders, which weigh up to four tons, over such a great distance?

Paragraph 4: 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. They then transferred the boulders onto rafts and floated them first along the Welsh coast and then up the River Avon toward Salisbury Plain; alternatively, they may have towed each stone with a fleet of vessels. 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.

Paragraph 5: As early as the 1970s, geologists began adding their voices to the debate over how Stonehenge came into being. 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. Most archaeologists have remained sceptical about this theory, however, wondering how the forces of nature could have delivered the exact number of stones needed to complete the circle.

Paragraph 6: 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. Some 50 of these stones are now visible on the site, which may once have contained many more. Radiocarbon dating has revealed that work continued at Stonehenge until roughly 1600 BCE, with the bluestones in particular being repositioned multiple times.

Paragraph 7: But who were the builders of Stonehenge? 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.

Paragraph 8: 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. The first stage was achieved by Neolithic agrarians who were likely to have been indigenous to the British Isles. Later, it is believed, groups with advanced tools and a more communal way of life left their mark on the site. Some believe that they were immigrants from the European continent, while others maintain that they were probably native Britons, descended from the original builders.

Paragraph 9: If the facts surrounding the architects and construction of Stonehenge remain shadowy at best, the purpose of the striking monument is even more of a mystery. While there is consensus among the majority of modern scholars that Stonehenge once served the function of a burial ground, they have yet to determine what other purposes it had.

Paragraph 10: 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.

Paragraph 11: More recently, signs of illness and injury in the human remains unearthed at Stonehenge led a group of British archaeologists to speculate that it was considered a place of healing, perhaps because bluestones were thought to have curative powers.

Learn all about: IELTS Reading Test

Stonehenge Reading Answers with Explanations

Thirteen questions come under this passage, split into two types. Note Completion and True, False, Not Given. Each type needs a slightly different approach, so it helps to know what you're dealing with before you start.

Read each question slowly first. Don't jump to the passage right away. Once you know what's being asked, go find the exact line it's pointing to and check how the wording matches up. This section covers all thirteen questions this way, so you're not just seeing the answer; you're seeing why it's the answer.

Questions 1-8 Note Completion Answers and Explanations

You get lines with blanks here, and you have to fill each one using words straight from the passage. This is where most Stonehenge reading answers go wrong, so stick to the two word limit and don't add extra words even if they sound right. 

Q1: the ditch and henge were dug, possibly using tools made from ______

Answer: antlers (deer antlers)

Explanation: Paragraph 2 says Neolithic Britons used tools that "may have been fashioned out of deer antlers" to dig the ditch and henge. That's a direct match, so antlers is the answer.

Q2: ______ may have been arranged in deep pits inside the circle

Answer: posts (timber posts)

Explanation: Paragraph 2 talks about deep pits that "may have once held a ring of timber posts." Timber posts fit right into the blank here.

Q3: builders used ______ to make sledges and rollers

Answer: tree trunks

Explanation: Paragraph 4 says builders "fashioned sledges and rollers out of tree trunks." Nothing tricky here, it's stated plainly.

Q4: ______ pulled them on giant basket

Answer: oxen

Explanation: Paragraph 4 mentions wicker baskets being "hauled by oxen." Wicker baskets is just another way of saying giant baskets, so oxen is your answer.

Q5: they were brought from Wales by ______

Answer: glaciers

Explanation: Paragraph 5 says some scientists think "it was glaciers, not humans, that carried the bluestones." That's the geological theory this question is asking about.

Q6: a theory arose in the 17th century that its builders were Celtic ______

Answer: druids

Explanation: Paragraph 7 says John Aubrey claimed Stonehenge "was the work of druids" back in the 17th century. Straight lift from the text.

Q7: many experts agree it has been used as a ______ site

Answer: burial

Explanation: Paragraph 9 says most scholars agree Stonehenge "once served the function of burial ground." Burial is the word you need.

Q8: in the 1960s, it was suggested that it worked as a kind of ______

Answer: calendar

Explanation: Paragraph 10 says Gerald Hawkins suggested the stones "operated as a form of calendar" back in the 1960s. That matches exactly.

Questions 9-13 True, False, Not Given Answers and Explanations

This part trips up a lot of people. Read the statement first, then find where the passage talks about that same thing. If it matches, it's true. If it says the opposite, it's false. If the passage just doesn't mention it at all, that's when you mark not given.

Q9: During the third phase of construction, sandstone slabs were placed in both the outer areas and the middle of the Stonehenge site.

Answer: TRUE

Explanation: Paragraph 6 says sandstone slabs were "arranged into an outer crescent or ring" and some were also built into trilithons "in the centre of Stonehenge." Both outer and middle placements are mentioned, so this is true.

Q10: There is scientific proof that the bluestones stood in the same spot until approximately 1600 BCE.

Answer: FALSE

Explanation: Paragraph 6 actually says the opposite; the bluestones were "repositioned multiple times" while work went on until 1600 BCE. Since they were moved around, not staying put, this is false.

Q11: John Aubrey's claim about Stonehenge was supported by 20th-century findings.

Answer: FALSE

Explanation: Paragraph 7 says radiocarbon dating in the mid-20th century showed Stonehenge existed "more than 1,000 years before the Celts" lived in the region. That directly goes against what Aubrey claimed, so this is false.

Q12: Objects discovered at Stonehenge seem to indicate that it was constructed by a number of different groups of people.

Answer: TRUE

Explanation: Paragraph 8 says "bones, tools and other artefacts" support the idea that "several distinct tribes" worked on Stonehenge at different times. This matches the statement fully, so it's true.

Q13: Criticism of Gerald Hawkins' theory about Stonehenge has come mainly from other astronomers.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: Paragraph 10 does mention critics of Hawkins' theory, but it never says who these critics actually are. Since the passage doesn't confirm they were astronomers, there's no way to prove or disprove this part of the statement. That's what makes it not given.

Also Read: How to Register for the IELTS Exam in India

How to Solve the Stonehenge IELTS Reading Passage

Stonehenge is packed with names, dates, and archaeological terms that show up again and again across the questions, and once you know how to catch these, the passage gets a lot easier to handle. Here are your main scanning anchors:

• Names: Aubrey, Pachidi, Hawkins
• Places: Preseli Hills, Salisbury Plain
• Terms: sarsens, trilithons, bluestones
• Dates: 1600 BCE, 2000 BCE

The passage runs on two question types: Note Completion for Q1 to 8, and True/False/Not Given for Q9 to 13. Each one asks you to read in a slightly different way, so let's break both down.

Identify Keywords and Their Paraphrases

The passage rarely uses the exact words from the question; it gets reworded, and if you're only hunting for an identical phrase, you'll end up missing the answer. This is one of the biggest reasons students lose marks on this passage. Here's how that plays out in Q5:

• Question says: brought from Wales
• Passage says: carried the bluestones to Salisbury Plain

Same meaning, just phrased differently. Once you start catching these swaps naturally, answers stop feeling like guesswork.

Check the Full Context Before Choosing an Answer

Spotting one matching word feels like a win, but it isn't enough on its own. A sentence can have the exact keyword you're looking for and still mean something totally different from what the question is actually asking. Before you lock anything in, run through this:

• Find the keyword first
• Read a line before it and a line after it
• Check if the full meaning actually lines up with the question
• Don't pick an answer just because one word looked familiar

Follow the Question Instructions Carefully

Every question type here comes with its own rule, and missing that rule costs marks even when your answer is technically correct. Keep these in mind before you start writing:

• Questions 1 to 8: stick to a two-word limit; going over means it's marked wrong
• Questions 9 to 13: choose only between true, false, and not given
• Always read the instruction line above each section before you begin answering

Also check out IELTS Band Score Chart

Common Mistakes in Stonehenge Reading Answers

Most students who read this passage carefully still end up losing marks, and it's rare because they didn't understand it. It usually comes down to small, avoidable slip-ups while answering. Here are the ones that show up most often with this passage.

Confusing Similar Information

Some lines in the passage sound close to what a question is asking, but they're actually talking about something else entirely. Q10 is a good example of this trap:

• A lot of students mark it TRUE just because 1600 BCE shows up in the passage
• What the passage actually says is that the bluestones were repositioned during that time, not that they stayed in one place.
• Always read the complete sentence around a matching word before deciding your answer.

Missing Paraphrased Information

Hunting for the exact words used in the question usually means missing the answer entirely, since this passage barely ever repeats question wording as it is. Keep these points in mind instead:

• Focus on the idea being expressed, not one specific phrase
• Related words and synonyms count just as much as an exact match
• The meaning matters more than the exact word

Ignoring Question Instructions

Small formatting slips cost real marks here, even when your understanding of the passage is spot on. Watch out for these:

• Going past the word limit in Note Completion gets marked wrong, no matter how correct the word itself is
• Picking the wrong format for True/False/Not Given works the same way
• Take a second to read the instructions above each section properly before you start writing answers

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Tips to Improve Your IELTS Reading Score

A good reading score isn't about knowing more vocabulary; it's about reading smarter under time pressure. Whether you're working through Stonehenge IELTS reading answers or any other passage, these habits make a real difference once you build them in: 

• Read each question slowly before jumping into the passage
• Pick out the strongest keywords first
• Scan for details instead of rereading the whole passage each time
• Watch out for synonyms and reworded ideas
• Confirm your answer using the full sentence, not just one word
• Stick to word limits, no exceptions
• Go back over wrong answers and figure out exactly where it went off
• Practice similar passages under a timer to build speed over time

Conclusion

Working through the Stonehenge reading answers really comes down to one thing: knowing what each question type wants from you before you even start hunting for words in the passage. That's the real skill behind solving Stonehenge IELTS reading answers correctly, not just memorising the key. 

Note: Completion needs precision with word limits. True/False/Not Given needs careful reading of what's actually said versus what's only implied.

Here's the full answer key one more time for quick reference:

• Q1: antlers (deer antlers)
• Q2: posts (timber posts)
• Q3: tree trunks
• Q4: oxen
• Q5: glaciers
• Q6: druids
• Q7: burial
• Q8: calendar
• Q9: TRUE
• Q10: FALSE
• Q11: FALSE
• Q12: TRUE
• Q13: NOT GIVEN

A few things matter most here:

• Knowing which question type you're solving before you start scanning
• Locating specific information instead of going off memory
• Catching paraphrased wording instead of hunting for exact matches
• Reading the full context around a keyword, not just the keyword itself
• Sticking to word limits and instruction formats exactly as given
• Checking your answer against the passage once more before moving on

If you're prepping for the Stonehenge reading answers or similar Cambridge passages, try these next:

• Practise a few more Note Completion and True/False/Not Given passages
• Lean on what's written in the text, not assumptions or general knowledge
• Time yourself while solving; it helps with both speed and accuracy
• Go back over every wrong answer and figure out where it slipped; don't just memorise the right one

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