Stepwells IELTS Reading Answers With Explanation

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1. Stepwells IELTS Reading
- 1.1 Reading passage
- 1.2 Questions
2. Stepwells IELTS Answers
3. Stepwells IELTS Explanation

1. Stepwells IELTS Reading

1.1 Reading passage

A millennium ago, stepwells were fundamental to life in the driest parts of India. Although many have been neglected, recent restoration has returned them to their former glory. Richard Cox travelled to north-western India to document these spectacular monuments from a bygone era.

During the sixth and seventh centuries, the inhabitants of the modern-day states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in North-western India developed a method of gaining access to clean, fresh groundwater during the dry season for drinking, bathing, watering animals and irrigation. However, the significance of this invention – the stepwell – goes beyond its utilitarian application.
Unique to the region, stepwells are often architecturally complex and vary widely in size and shape. During their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure, of relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest castes.Most stepwells are found dotted around the desert areas of Gujarat (where they are called vav) and Rajasthan (where they are known as baori), while a few also survive in Delhi. Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community; others were positioned beside roads as resting places for travellers.
As their name suggests, stepwells comprise a series of stone steps descending from ground level to the water source (normally an underground aquifer) as it recedes following the rains. When the water level was high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, several levels would have to be negotiated.
Some wells are vast, open craters with hundreds of steps paving each sloping side, often in tiers. Others are more elaborate, with long stepped passages leading to the water via several storeys built from stone and supported by pillars, they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat. But perhaps the most impressive features are the intricate decorative sculptures that embellish many stepwells, showing activities from fighting and dancing to everyday acts such as women combing their hair and churning butter.
Down the centuries, thousands of wells were constructed throughout northwestern India, but the majority have now fallen into disuse; many are derelict and dry, as groundwater has been diverted for industrial use and the wells no longer reach the water table. Their condition hasn’t been helped by recent dry spells: southern Rajasthan suffered an eight- year drought between 1996 and 2004. However, some important sites in Gujarat have recently undergone major restoration, and the state government announced in June last year that it plans to restore the stepwells throughout the state.
In Patan, the state’s ancient capital, the stepwell of Rani Ki Vav (Queen’s Stepwell) is perhaps the finest current example. It was built by Queen Udayamati during the late 11th century, but became silted up following a flood during the 13th century. But the Archaeological Survey of India began restoring it in the 1960s, and today it’s in pristine condition. At 65 metres long, 20 metres wide and 27 metres deep, Rani Ki Vav features 500 distinct sculptures carved into niches throughout the monument, depicting gods such as Vishnu and Parvati in various incarnations. Incredibly, in January 2001, this ancient structure survived a devastating earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.
G. Another example is the Surya Kund in Modhera, northern Gujarat, next to the Sun Temple, built by King Bhima I in 1026 to honour the sun god Surya. It’s actually a tank (kund means reservoir or pond) rather than a well, but displays the hallmarks of stepwell architecture, including four sides of steps that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical formation. The terraces house 108 small, intricately carved shrines between the sets of steps.
Rajasthan also has a wealth of wells. The ancient city of Bundi, 200 kilometres south of Jaipur, is reknowned for its architecture, including its stepwells. One of the larger examples is Raniji Ki Baori, which was built by the queen of the region, Nathavatji, in 1699. At 46 metres deep, 20 metres wide and 40 metres long, the intricately carved monument is one of 21 baoris commissioned in the Bundi area by Nathavatji.
I. In the old ruined town of Abhaneri, about 95 kilometres east of Jaipur, is Chand Baori, one of India’s oldest and deepest wells; aesthetically, it’s perhaps one of the most dramatic. Built in around 850 AD next to the temple of Harshat Mata, the baori comprises hundreds of zigzagging steps that run along three of its sides, steeply descending 11 storeys, resulting in a striking geometric pattern when seen from afar. On the fourth side, covered verandas supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.
Still in public use is Neemrana Ki Baori, located just off the Jaipur–Dehli highway. Constructed in around 1700, it’s nine storeys deep, with the last two levels underwater. At ground level, there are 86 colonnaded openings from where the visitor descends 170 steps to the deepest water source.
Today, following years of neglect, many of these monuments to medieval engineering have been saved by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has recognised the importance of preserving them as part of the country’s rich history. Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of northwestern India to gaze in wonder at these architectural marvels from 1,000 years ago, which serve as a reminder of both the ingenuity and artistry of ancient civilisations and of the value of water to human existence.

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1.2 Questions

Question 1 – 5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

In following statements below, choose

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Examples of ancient stepwells can be found all over the world.
Stepwells had a range of functions, in addition to those related to water collection
The few existing stepwells in Delhi are more attractive than those found elsewhere.
It took workers many years to build the stone steps characteristic of stepwells
The number of steps above the water level in a stepwell altered during the course of a year.

Question 6 – 8

Answer the questions below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Which part of some stepwells provided shade for people?
What type of serious climatic event, which took place in southern Rajasthan, is mentioned in the article?
Who are frequent visitors to stepwells nowadays?

Questions 9-13

Complete the table below

Choose ONE WORD AND /OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

Stepwell	Date	Features	Other notes
Rani Ki Vav	Late 11th century	As many as 500 sculptures decorate the monument	Restored in the 1960s Excellent condition, despite the 9_____ of 2001
Surya Kund	1026	Steps on the 10_____ produce a geometrical pattern Carved shrines	Looks more like a 11 _____ than a well
Raniji Ki Baori	1699	Intricately carved monument	One of 21 baoris in the area commissioned by Queen Nathavatji
Chand Baori	850 AD	Steps take you down 11 storeys to the bottom	Old, deep and very dramatic Has 12 _____ which provide a view of the steps
Neemrana Ki Baori	1700	Has two 13 _____ levels	Used by public today

2. Stepwells IELTS Answers

Dưới đây là bảng đáp án:

Question Number	Answer	Keywords	Location of Keyword
1	FALSE	ancient stepwells, all over the world	Para B, line 1- 2
2	TRUE	a range of functions	Para B, line 2-3
3	NOT GIVEN	stepwells in Delhi, more attractive.	Para B
4	NOT GIVEN	many years, stone steps	-Para C, D
5	TRUE	steps, water level, altered	Para D, line 3-6
6	pavilions	shade	-Para E, line 2-4
7	drought	climatic event, southern Rajasthan	Para L, line 4-6
8	tourists	frequent visitors, nowadays	Para F, line 4-5
9	earthquakes	2001, excellent	Para G, line 4-6
10	4/four sides		Para G, line 6
11	tank	steps, geometrical pattern/ more like	Para G, line 6
12	verandas/verandahs		Para I, line 7-8
13	underwater	Two, levels	Para K

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3. Stepwells IELTS Explanation

Question 1
Đáp án: FALSE
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn B, câu đầu tiên: “Unique to the region, stepwells are often architecturally complex and vary widely in size and shape.”
Giải thích: Bài viết chỉ ra rằng giếng bậc thang là đặc trưng cho khu vực này (North-western India), không phải xuất hiện ở khắp nơi trên thế giới.

Từ vựng trong câu hỏi	Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài đọc
Found all over the world	Unique to the region

Question 2

Đáp án: TRUE
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn B, câu thứ hai: “During their heyday, they were places of gathering, of leisure, of relaxation and of worship for villagers of all but the lowest castes.”
Giải thích: Bài viết nói rằng giếng bậc thang không chỉ dùng để lấy nước mà còn là nơi tụ họp, thư giãn và thờ cúng, phục vụ nhiều mục đích xã hội khác.

Question 3

Đáp án: NOT GIVEN
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn B: “Some were located in or near villages as public spaces for the community; others were positioned beside roads as resting places for travellers.”
Giải thích: Mặc dù bài viết có đề cập rằng có một số giếng bậc thang tồn tại ở Delhi, nhưng không có thông tin so sánh giữa các giếng ở Delhi và nơi khác về mức độ thu hút.

Từ vựng trong câu hỏi	Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài đọc
Existing	Survive

Question 4
Đáp án: NOT GIVEN
Thông tin trong đoạn: Các đoạn C và D mô tả về những bậc đá trong giếng bậc thang, nhưng không đề cập đến thời gian xây dựng chúng.
Giải thích: Bài viết không cung cấp thông tin về việc mất bao lâu để xây dựng những bậc đá này.
Question 5

Đáp án: TRUE
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn C, câu cuối cùng: “When the water level was high, the user needed only to descend a few steps to reach it; when it was low, several levels would have to be negotiated.”
Giải thích: Câu này cho thấy số bậc trong giếng thay đổi tùy thuộc vào mực nước, xác nhận rằng số bậc có sự thay đổi trong suốt năm.

Question 6

Đáp án: Pavilions
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn D, câu thứ hai: “they also included pavilions that sheltered visitors from the relentless heat.”
Giải thích: Tác giả nói rằng mỗi giếng bậc thang đều có mái hiên (pavilions) giúp che bóng râm cho người đến thăm, tránh nắng nóng.

Từ vựng trong câu hỏi	Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài đọc
Provide shade	Shelter

Question 7

Đáp án: Drought

Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn E, câu thứ hai: “southern Rajasthan suffered an eight-year drought between 1996 and 2004.”

Giải thích: Bài viết đề cập đến một đợt hạn hán kéo dài 8 năm ở Rajasthan, là sự kiện thời tiết khắc nghiệt được nhắc đến.

Question 8

Đáp án: Tourists

Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn L, câu thứ hai: “Tourists flock to wells in far-flung corners of northwestern India to gaze in wonder at these architectural marvels from 1,000 years ago.”
Giải thích: Câu này cho thấy du khách (tourists) là những người đến thăm các giếng bậc thang ngày nay, để chiêm ngưỡng những công trình kiến trúc từ hơn 1000 năm trước.

Từ vựng trong câu hỏi	Từ đồng nghĩa trong bài đọc
Nowadays	Today

Question 9-13: Complete the table below

Choose ONE WORD AND /OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

Stepwells	Date	Features	Other notes
Rani Ki Vav	Late 11th century	As many as 500 sculptures decorate the monument	Restored in the 1990s, Excellent condition, despite the 9. Earthquake of 2001.
Surya Kund	1026	Steps on the 10. 4 sides produce a geometric pattern	11. Tank
Raniji Ki Baori	1699	Intricately carved monument	One of 21 baoris in the area commissioned by Queen Nathavatji
Chand Baori	850 AD	Steps take you down 11. 11 storeys to the bottom	Old, deep and very dramatic, Has 12. verandahs which provide a view to the steps.
Neemrana Ki Baori	1700	Has two 13. levels	Used by public today

Question 9

Đáp án: Earthquake
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn F, câu cuối: “in January 2001, this ancient structure survived a devastating earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.”
Giải thích: Trận động đất xảy ra vào tháng 1 năm 2001 là sự kiện lớn, dù vậy công trình này vẫn tồn tại.

Question 10 and 11:

Đáp án 10: 4 sides
Đáp án 11: Tank
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn G, câu thứ hai: “It actually resembles a tank (kund means reservoir or pond) rather than a well, but displays the hallmarks of stepwell architecture, including four sides of steps that descend to the bottom in a stunning geometrical formation.”
Giải thích: Câu 10 yêu cầu một danh từ số ít “four sides” vì có mạo từ “the” phía trước, và câu 11 yêu cầu danh từ “tank” vì nó nói về một kiểu giếng giống bể chứa (tank).
Question 12

Đáp án: Verandahs
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn I, câu cuối: “On the fourth side, covered verandas supported by ornate pillars overlook the steps.”
Giải thích: Những chiếc cột có mái hiên bao phủ, giúp nhìn xuống các bậc thang. Vì “provide a view” nên cần dùng từ số nhiều là “verandahs”.

Question 13

Đáp án: Levels
Thông tin trong đoạn: Đoạn K, câu thứ hai: “Constructed in around 1700, it’s nine storeys deep,…”
Giải thích: “Levels” là các tầng của giếng, trong đoạn này mô tả về độ sâu và các cấp độ (levels) của giếng.

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