Welcome back to ECE’s IELTS Reading series. During your test prep, you have likely encountered passages that blend scientific topics with biographical sketches. This specific format can be quite confusing if you don’t have a smart strategy in place.
The reading passage “Radiocarbon Dating – The Profile of Nancy Athfield” is a prime example. Today, we will “dissect” this entire text—from a general overview and a compilation of high-scoring vocabulary to specific test-taking strategies and detailed answer explanations. Let’s dive in!
Overview of “Radiocarbon Dating”
This passage revolves around two main themes:
- Radiocarbon Dating: A brief introduction to how this scientific method is used to determine the age of ancient objects.
- The Career of Researcher Nancy Athfield: The article uses Nancy’s career—specifically her project at Angkor Wat, Cambodia—as a real-world case study for the application of this method.
The biggest challenge in this passage is its non-linear timeline. The author begins with the project in Cambodia, then jumps back in time to cover Nancy’s early career before returning to the original story. Recognizing this structure is key to ensuring you don’t lose your way when searching for information.
Reading passage
A
Have you ever picked up a small stone off the ground and wondered how old it was? Chances are, that stone has been around many more years than your own lifetime. Many scientists share this curiosity about the age of inanimate objects like rocks, fossils and precious stones. Knowing how old an object is can provide valuable information about our prehistoric past. In most societies, human beings have kept track of history through writing. However, scientists are still curious about the world before writing, or even the world before humans. Studying the age of objects is our best way to piece together histories of our prehistoric past. One such method of finding the age of an object is called radiocarbon dating. This method can find the age of any object based on the kind of particles and atoms that are found inside of the object. Depending on what elements the object is composed of, radiocarbon can be a reliable way to find an object’s age. One famous specialist in this method is the researcher Nancy Athfield. Athfield studied the ancient remains found in the country of Cambodia. Many prehistoric remains were discovered by the local people of Cambodia. These objects were thought to belong to some of the original groups of humans that first came to the country of Cambodia. The remains had never been scientifically studied, so Nancy was greatly intrigued by the opportunity to use modern methods to discover the true age of these ancient objects.
B
Athfield had this unique opportunity because her team, comprised of scientists and filmmakers, were in Cambodia working on a documentary. The team was trying to discover evidence to prove a controversial claim in history: that Cambodia was the resting place for the famous royal family of Angkor. At that time, written records and historic accounts conflicted on the true resting place. Many people across the world disagreed over where the final resting place was. For the first time, Athfield and her team had a chance to use radiocarbon dating to find new evidence. They had a chance to solve the historic mystery that many had been arguing over for years.
C
Athfield and her team conducted radiocarbon dating of many of the ancient objects found in the historic site of Angkor Wat. Nancy found the history of Angkor went back to as early as 1620. According to historic records, the remains of the Angkor royal family were much younger than that, so this evidence cast a lot of doubt as to the status of the ancient remains. The research ultimately raised more questions. If the remains were not of the royal family, then whose remains were being kept in the ancient site? Athfield’s team left Cambodia with more questions unanswered. Since Athfield’s team studied the remains, new remains have been unearthed at the ancient site of Angkor Wat, so it is possible that these new remains could be the true remains of the royal family. Nancy wished to come back to continue her research one day.
D
In her early years, the career of Athfield was very unconventional. She didn’t start her career as a scientist. At the beginning, she would take any kind of job to pay her bills. Most of them were low-paying jobs or brief Community service opportunities. She worked often but didn’t know what path she would ultimately take. But eventually, her friend suggested that Athfield invest in getting a degree. The friend recommended that Athfield attend a nearby university. Though doubtful of her own qualifications, she applied and was eventually accepted by the school. It was there that she met Willard Libby, the inventor of radiocarbon dating. She took his class and soon had the opportunity to complete hands-on research. She soon realized that science was her passion. After graduation, she quickly found a job in a research institution.
E
After college, Athfield’s career in science blossomed. She eventually married, and her husband landed a job at the prestigious organization GNN. Athfield joined her husband in the same organization, and she became a lab manager in the institution. She earned her PhD in scientific research, and completed her studies on a kind of rat when it first appeared in New Zealand. There, she created original research and found many flaws in the methods being used in New Zealand laboratories. Her research showed that the subject’s diet led to the fault in the earlier research. She was seen as an expert by her peers in New Zealand, and her opinion and expertise were widely respected. She had come a long way from her old days of working odd jobs. It seemed that Athfield’s career was finally taking off.
F
But Athfield’s interest in scientific laboratories wasn’t her only interest. She didn’t settle down in New Zealand. Instead, she expanded her areas of expertise. Athfield eventually joined the field of Anthropology, the study of human societies, and became a well-qualified archaeologist. It was during her blossoming career as an archaeologist that Athfield became involved with the famous Cambodia project. Even as the filmmakers ran out of funding and left Cambodia, Athfield continued to stay and continue her research.
G
In 2003, the film was finished in uncertain conclusions, but Nancy continued her research on the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat. This research was not always easy. Her research was often delayed by lack of funding, and government paperwork. Despite her struggles, she committed to finishing her research. Finally, she made a breakthrough. Using radiocarbon dating, Athfield completed a database for the materials found in Cambodia. As a newcomer to Cambodia, she lacked a complete knowledge of Cambodian geology, which made this feat even more difficult. Through steady determination and ingenuity, Athfield finally completed the database. Though many did not believe she could finish, her research now remains an influential and tremendous contribution to geological sciences in Cambodia. In the future, radiocarbon dating continues to be a valuable research skill. Athfield will be remembered as one of the first to bring this scientific method to the study of the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat.
Questions 1-7: True / False / Not Given
- Nancy Athfield first discovered the ancient remains in Cambodia.
- The remains found in Cambodia were in good condition.
- Nancy took some time off from her regular work to do research in Cambodia.
- The Cambodian government asked Nancy to radiocarbon the remains.
- The filmmakers aimed to find out how the Angkor was rebuilt.
- Nancy initially doubted whether the royal family was hidden in Cambodia.
- Nancy disproved the possibility that the remains belonged to the Angkor royal family.
Questions 8-13: Flow-chart Completion (Choose ONE WORD ONLY)
The Career of Nancy Athfield During her mid-teens, Nancy wasn’t expected to attend 8……………………..
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Willard Billy later helped Nancy to find that she was interested in science.
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Her PhD degree was researching when a kind of 9………………………., first went into New Zealand.
↓
Her research showed that the subject’s 10………………………… accounted for the fault in the earlier research.
↓
She was a professional 11………………….. before she went back to Cambodia in 2003.
↓
When she returned to Cambodia, the lack of 12……………………….. was a barrier for her research.
↓
Then she compiled the 13……………………… of the Cambodia radiocarbon dating of the ancients.
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After that, the lack of a detailed map of the geology of Cambodia became a hindrance of her research.
Key Academic Vocabulary
Before we get to the answers, let’s look at some high-level academic vocabulary found in the text!
- Inanimate /ɪnˈæn.ə.mət/ (adj): Not alive; lifeless.
Example: Scientists use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of both living and inanimate objects from the past.
- Curiosity /ˌkjʊə.riˈɒs.ə.ti/ (n): A strong desire to know or learn something.
Example: Her curiosity about the ancient world led her to a career in archaeology.
- Prehistoric /ˌpriː.hɪˈstɒr.ɪk/ (adj): Relating to the period before written records.
Example: The museum holds a vast collection of prehistoric artifacts.
- Controversial /ˌkɒn.trəˈvɜː.ʃəl/ (adj): Giving rise to public disagreement.
Example: The team tried to find evidence to prove a controversial claim in history.
- Unconventional /ˌʌn.kənˈven.ʃən.əl/ (adj): Not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed.
Example: Nancy Athfield’s career path was quite unconventional, starting with odd jobs before she found her passion in science.
- Prestigious /presˈtɪdʒ.əs/ (adj): Inspiring respect and admiration; having high status.
Example: He graduated from a prestigious university with a degree in geology.
- Ingenuity /ˌɪn.dʒəˈnjuː.ə.ti/ (n): The quality of being clever, original, and inventive.
Example: Through steady determination and ingenuity, Athfield finally completed the database.
- Tremendous contribution /trəˈmen.dəs ˌkɒn.trɪˈbjuː.ʃən/ (n.p): A very great or significant role in helping to achieve something.
Example: Her research remains a tremendous contribution to geological sciences.
Detailed Answer Explanations
Questions 1-7: True / False / Not Given
1. Nancy Athfield first discovered the ancient remains in Cambodia.
- Answer: FALSE
- Explanation: Paragraph A states, “Many prehistoric remains were discovered by the local people of Cambodia.” Nancy only arrived later to study them.
2. The remains found in Cambodia were in good condition.
- Answer: NOT GIVEN
- Explanation: The passage does not provide any information regarding the physical condition (good, bad, intact, or damaged) of the remains.
3. Nancy took some time off from her regular work to do research in Cambodia.
- Answer: NOT GIVEN
- Explanation: Paragraph F mentions that the Cambodia project was part of her blossoming career as an archaeologist; there is no detail suggesting she had to take leave from another job to participate.
4. The Cambodian government asked Nancy to radiocarbon the remains.
- Answer: FALSE
- Explanation: Paragraph A indicates that Nancy herself was “greatly intrigued by the opportunity,” showing her own initiative rather than a request from the government.
5. The filmmakers aimed to find out how the Angkor was rebuilt.
- Answer: FALSE
- Explanation: Paragraph B clearly states their goal was to find “the resting place for the famous royal family of Angkor,” not how the site was reconstructed.
6. Nancy initially doubted whether the royal family was hidden in Cambodia.
- Answer: NOT GIVEN
- Explanation: While the text mentions it was a “controversial claim,” it does not describe Nancy’s personal thoughts or initial attitude toward the claim.
7. Nancy disproved the possibility that the remains belonged to the Angkor royal family.
- Answer: TRUE
- Explanation: Paragraph C notes that the remains dated back to 1620, which was much older than the Angkor royal family’s era. This scientific discrepancy served as evidence to disprove the claim.
Questions 8-13: Flow-chart Completion
8. …Nancy wasn’t expected to attend ________________.
- Answer: university
- Explanation: Paragraph D mentions a friend “recommended that Athfield attend a nearby university,” implying she hadn’t planned on it previously.
9. Her PhD degree was researching when a kind of ________________, first went into New Zealand.
- Answer: rat
- Explanation: Paragraph E contains a nearly identical sentence: “…completed her studies on a kind of rat when it first appeared in New Zealand.”
10. …the subject’s ________________ accounted for the fault in the earlier research.
- Answer: diet
- Explanation: Paragraph E states: “…the subject’s diet led to the fault in the earlier research.”
11. She was a professional ________________ before she went back to Cambodia…
- Answer: archaeologist
- Explanation: Paragraph F confirms she became a “well-qualified archaeologist” before joining the Cambodia project.
12. …the lack of ________________ was a barrier for her research.
- Answer: funding
- Explanation: Paragraph G explicitly states: “Her research was often delayed by lack of funding…”
13. Then she compiled the ________________ of the Cambodia radiocarbon dating…
- Answer: database
- Explanation: Paragraph G says: “…Athfield completed a database for the materials found in Cambodia.”
Conclusion
By analyzing the “Radiocarbon Dating” passage in detail, we can draw two important conclusions:
- Always analyze the passage structure and question types before starting. Choosing to begin with the Flow-chart helped us navigate this non-linear narrative systematically.
- Mastering academic vocabulary is a massive advantage, allowing you to understand the content more quickly and accurately.
We hope this breakdown has provided you with a comprehensive overview and useful strategies. Good luck with your studies and your journey to conquering the IELTS!
Khai giảng Khóa học Hè cực HOT.
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