IELTS B1 READING • 15 MINS

The Mysteries of Stonehenge

Explore what 21st-century science has uncovered about prehistoric Britain, and discover the questions that remain unanswered.

📌

How to Use This Lesson

👩‍🏫 For Teachers (15-Minute Session)

Allocate 4 minutes for reading and 8 minutes for the 8 questions, reserving the final 3 minutes for review. Direct learners to pinpoint exact text quotes to justify their answers.

🧑‍🎓 For Learners (Step-by-Step Flow)

First, skim paragraphs A–D in 3 minutes to understand the central topic. Then, read each question carefully, highlight keywords, and locate the evidence in the passage before selecting an answer.

Reading Passage

Approx. 240 words

A cinematic, atmospheric illustration of Stonehenge at sunrise, prehistoric Britain, ancient standing stones, misty land

[Paragraph A] Stonehenge is an ancient monument located in Wiltshire, England. Built during the Neolithic period, this famous circle of standing stones is 4,000 to 5,000 years old. The huge outer stones, known as sarsens, were put up around 2500 BC. They still amaze the many visitors who travel to see them.

[Paragraph B] For over 400 years, experts debated where these enormous sarsen stones came from. In 2020, a breakthrough study led by Professor David Nash from the University of Brighton was published in the journal Science Advances. By analysing the chemical makeup of the rocks, researchers decided that 50 of the 52 sarsens probably came from West Woods, an area located about 25 kilometres north of the site.

[Paragraph C] The smaller pillars at the monument, called bluestones, tell a different story. Most of these rocks came from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, located in the far west of Wales. By examining what the stone is made of, geologists confirmed that ancient builders had transported them over 200 kilometres to reach Wiltshire.

[Paragraph D] Despite these discoveries, the true purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery because its builders left behind no written records. Archaeologists have uncovered cremated human remains at the site, which shows that it was used for burials for several centuries. However, whether it was also a religious temple, an astronomical calendar, or a place of healing is still argued about.

Practice Exercises (Questions 1–8)

Answer all questions based strictly on the passage above.

An aesthetic illustration of an ancient map or compass pointing to prehistoric standing stones, archaeological tools, no

Questions 1–3: True / False / Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information in the text? Choose True if the statement agrees, False if it contradicts the text, or Not Given if there is no information on this.

1 The large sarsen stones were erected at Stonehenge around 2500 BC.

____ True ____ False ____ Not Given

2 David Nash's study showed that all 52 sarsen stones at Stonehenge came from West Woods.

____ True ____ False ____ Not Given

3 Ancient builders used wooden sledges and ropes to pull the sarsen stones across Wiltshire.

____ True ____ False ____ Not Given

Questions 4–5: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

4 What was the main result of the 2020 study?

____ A. It proved that the monument was constructed much earlier than previously thought. ____ B. It located the specific area from which almost all of the large sarsen stones were taken out of the ground. ____ C. It revealed writing explaining how workers raised the stones. ____ D. It showed that sarsen stones and bluestones were transported from the exact same region.

5 What can be inferred from Paragraph D regarding the real purpose of Stonehenge?

____ A. The discovery of human remains has closed all discussion among archaeologists. ____ B. Tests have shown that people used the monument mainly as an astronomical calendar. ____ C. Its complete role cannot be settled with certainty because its builders left nothing in writing. ____ D. Historians believe that it never held any religious or ceremonial importance.

Question 6: Matching Paragraph Information

Which paragraph contains the following information? Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

6 Physical evidence confirming that Stonehenge was used as a burial ground.

____ A. Paragraph A ____ B. Paragraph B ____ C. Paragraph C ____ D. Paragraph D

Questions 7–8: Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

7 Geological examinations showed that most of the smaller stones called bluestones came from the [ gap ] in the far west of Wales.

Your Answer: ____ (Type your answer here...)

8 Modern archaeologists still cannot determine the site's complete purpose because prehistoric people left no [ gap ] behind.

Your Answer: ____ (Type your answer here...)

The Mysteries of Stonehenge

The Mysteries of Stonehenge

How to Use This Lesson

Reading Passage

Practice Exercises (Questions 1–8)

Questions 1–3: True / False / Not Given

Questions 4–5: Multiple Choice

Question 6: Matching Paragraph Information

Questions 7–8: Sentence Completion

Related lessons

Class activity: Detective Theories (Deduction Game)

Mysteries and Legends: Speaking Practice

Mysteries & Legends

Mysteries and Legends Vocabulary Practice

Reading: Learning with Mobile Apps

Reading: Street Food Markets