Cambridge IELTS 16 Reading Test 3-AC 

Warships and merchant ships

Warships were designed so that they were 6 Fill in the blank 1 of 8 and moved quickly. They often remained afloat after battles and were able to sail close to land as they lacked any additional weight. A battering ram made of 7 Fill in the blank 2 of 8 was included in the design for attacking and damaging the timber and oars of enemy ships. Warships, such as the ‘trireme’, had rowers on three different 8 Fill in the blank 3 of 8 .

Unlike warships, merchant ships had a broad 9 Fill in the blank 4 of 8 that lay far below the surface of the sea. Merchant ships were steered through the water with the help of large rudders and a tiller bar. They had both square and 10 Fill in the blank 5 of 8 sails. On merchant ships and warships, 11 Fill in the blank 6 of 8 was used to ensure rowers moved their oars in and out of the water at the same time.

Quantities of agricultural goods such as 12 Fill in the blank 7 of 8 were transported by merchant ships to two main ports in Italy. The ships were pulled to the shore by 13 Fill in the blank 8 of 8 . When the weather was clear and they could see islands or land, sailors used landmarks that they knew to help them navigate their route.

Organic materials such as animal skins and textiles are not discovered very often at archaeological sites. They have little protection against 20 Fill in the blank 1 of 3 , which means that they decay relatively quickly. But this is not always the case. If temperatures are low enough, fragile artefacts can be preserved for thousands of years.

A team of archaeologists have been working in the mountains in Oppland in Norway to recover artefacts revealed by shrinking ice cover. In the past, there were trade routes through these mountains and 21 Fill in the blank 2 of 3 gathered there in the summer months to avoid being attacked by 22 Fill in the blank 3 of 3 on lower ground. The people who used these mountains left things behind and it is those objects that are of interest to archaeologists.

33 mention of specialists who can make use of the research findings Fill in the blank 1 of 5

34 a reference to a potential benefit of the research findings Fill in the blank 2 of 5

35 scientific support for a traditional saying Fill in the blank 3 of 5

36 a reference to people traditionally making plans based on plant behaviour Fill in the blank 4 of 5

37 a reference to where the research has been reported Fill in the blank 5 of 5

38 Daffodils are likely to flower early in response to Fill in the blank 1 of 3 weather.

39 If ash trees come into leaf before oak trees, the weather in Fill in the blank 2 of 3 will probably be wet.

40 The research was carried out using a particular species of Fill in the blank 3 of 3 .