Thor Heyerdahl: listening answers and explanations

Which two hobbies did Heyerdahl love as a young person?

especially his passion for collecting things. … he had his own little museum. … No, itwas climbing that he spent his

Why: B: Victor corrects Olivia, saying climbing is what he spent his time on as a young man. C: his 'passion for collecting things' was so strong he had his own little museum.

The trap: A, camping, is Olivia's suggestion and Victor says 'No'. D: he refused to go hunting with his dad. E: his mother read to him, but reading isn't described as his hobby.

Why did academics think migration from the east was impossible?

they thought that travel from the east was impossible, because of the huge, empty stretch of ocean that lies between the islands and the nearest inhabited land.

Why: A huge, empty stretch of ocean between Polynesia and the nearest inhabited land means the eastern lands were too far away. A.

The trap: C: winds and currents are what Heyerdahl studied to prove it was possible. B: the second argument was about 'no tradition of large ship-building', not a lack of materials.

What do the speakers agree was the main reason for the raft journey?

I think it was more a matter of simply trying out his idea, to see if, migration from the east was possible. … Yes, that's probably it.

Why: Olivia says the voyage was to try out his idea, and Victor agrees: 'that's probably it'. Trying out an idea is testing a theory. C.

The trap: B is Victor's first suggestion, to show he could have spectacular adventures, but he drops it once Olivia answers. A: the war did stop his work, but that's mentioned as a hardship, not the reason for the trip.

What mattered most to Heyerdahl about the raft voyage?

Um, I haven't read anywhere that that was his motivation. The most, important factor seems to have been that he use only ancient techniques and local materials to build his raft.

Why: Victor says the most important factor was using only ancient techniques and local materials. That's authentic construction, C.

The trap: A is Olivia's question, and Victor rejects it. B: Olivia wonders about the speed, and 97 days is given, but it's just a fact, not his priority.

What was the purpose of his trip to Easter Island?

But what he wanted to do was talk to the local people about their old stone carvings and then make one himself to learn more about the, process.

Why: He wanted to learn about the old stone carvings and then 'make one himself'. Making a stone carving is building a stone statue, A.

The trap: B: Olivia thinks he sailed there in a reed boat, but Victor corrects her: 'that was later on in Egypt'. C: he talked to the local people, but learning their language is never mentioned.

In Olivia's view, where did Heyerdahl have his biggest influence?

To my mind, he was the first person to establish what modern, academics Call practical archaeology. I mean, that they try to recreate, something from the past today

Why: Practical archaeology is a method: recreating something from the past, like his raft trip. So his influence was on how archaeologists work, B.

The trap: A: his ideas about Polynesian origins 'have been completely discredited'. C: archaeology already existed as a subject; he started one way of doing it.

What do they criticise about William Oliver's book?

were very sound, although I must say I found the overall tone somewhat old-fashioned. I think they need to do a new, revised edition. … Yeah, I agree.

Why: 'Tone' is style and 'old-fashioned' is out of date, and Olivia agrees. A.

The trap: C: Victor says the research methods 'were very sound', the opposite of flawed. B: Olivia found the subject 'really challenging', so it's not over-simplified.