# The oldest leather shoe - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 1） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2024.6.8 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/ba1bc9f1-c12c-48a2-af4b-7111694b0b4b（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A Archeologists discovered in 2010 what is said to be the world's oldest known leather shoe. The 5,500-year-old shoe, some 1,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids, was found by scientists excavating a huge cave, designated Areni-1, in Armenia near the border of Turkey and Iran. The shoe was part of a treasure trove of artifacts that experts say provide unprecedented information about an important and sparsely documented era: the Chalcolithic period or Copper Age, when humans are believed to have invented the wheel, as well as domesticating horses and producing other important innovations. B Along with the shoe, the cave yielded horns and bones of wild goats and red deer, as well as broken pottery and evidence of what may be the oldest known intentionally dried fruits: apricots, grapes, and plums. The cave, first discovered in 1997, appears to have been used primarily by powerful people of high status for keeping the Chalcolithic community's ritual objects, as well as their harvest during the winter months each year. But other people, probably acting as guards, seem to have lived in the front portion of the cave. C One of the lead scientists excavating Areni-1, Dr. Gregory Areshian of the University of California, Los Angeles, in the USA, said that the cave was also used by later civilizations, most recently by 14th-century Mongols, so he had assumed the shoe would be 600 to 700 years old. When separate laboratories at the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of California at Irvine in the USA carbon-dated the leather to 3653 to 3627 BC, he said, "We couldn't believe that a shoe could be so ancient." D The cow-hide shoe itself dates back to -3,500 BC (the Chalcolithic period) and is in perfect condition. Made from a single piece of leather and shaped to fit the wearer's foot, it contained grass—its purpose uncertain, whether to keep the foot warmer or to maintain the shape of the shoe, perhaps a precursor to the modern shoe-tree. "It is not known whether the shoe belonged to a man or woman," said lead author of the research, Dr. Ron Pinhas, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. "As while small (European size 37; US size 7 women), the shoe could well have fitted a man from that era." E The cave is situated in the Vayotz Dzor province of Armenia, on the Armenian, Iranian, Nakhichevan, and Turkish borders, and was known to regional archaeologists due to its visibility from the highway below. The stable, cool, and dry conditions in the cave resulted in exceptional preservation of the various objects that were found, which included large containers holding well-preserved wheat and barley, apricots, and other edible plants. The floor of the cave was covered by thick layers of sheep dung, acting as a solid seal over the objects and preserving them beautifully over the millennia. F "We initially thought that the shoe and other objects were about 600-700 years old due to their remarkable condition," explained Dr. Pinhasi. "It was only through carbon dating by laboratories in Oxford, UK, and California, US, that we discovered the shoe's true age—several hundred years older than Ötzi, the famous Alpine iceman." G Three samples were taken to determine the absolute age of the shoe, and all tests yielded the same results. Two small strips of leather were cut from the shoe and sent for analysis to the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit and the University of California - Irvine Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facility. Additionally, a piece of grass from within the shoe was dated at Oxford, confirming that both the shoe and the grass were of the same ancient age. H The shoe's discovery was credited to Armenian PhD student Diana Zardaryan of the Institute of Archaeology, Armenia, who found it in a pit alongside a broken pot and wild goat horns. Reflecting on the find, Ms. Zardaryan remarked, "I was amazed to find that even the shoe-laces were preserved." Dr. Gregory Areshian, co-director of the excavation at UCLA's Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, USA, expressed his astonishment at the state of preservation, noting, "The crusts sealed the artifacts and archaeological deposits as if they were freshly dried, just like they were put in a can." ## 题目与答案 ### 1. Questions 1-8 Do the following statements agree with the information in the reading text? In boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet, write 1 The shoe discovered in Armenia is older than the Egyptian pyramids. Questions 1-8 Do the following statements agree with the information in the reading text? In boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet, write 1 The shoe discovered in Armenia is older than the Egyptian pyramids. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：The 5,500-year-old shoe, some 1,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids, was found by scientists excavating a huge cave, designated Areni-1, in Armenia near the border of Turkey and Iran ### 10. 10 The cave at Areni-1 was utilized by different civilizations over time, including _____ in the 14th century. 10 The cave at Areni-1 was utilized by different civilizations over time, including _____ in the 14th century. **答案**：Mongols 原文定位：Dr. Gregory Areshian of the University of California, Los Angeles, in the USA, said that the cave was also used by later civilizations, most recently by 14th-century Mongols ### 11. 11 The shoe, made from a single piece of leather, was found alongside artifacts indicating the cave was used for storing _____ . 11 The shoe, made from a single piece of leather, was found alongside artifacts indicating the cave was used for storing _____ . **答案**：ritual objects 原文定位：The cave, first discovered in 1997, appears to have been used primarily by powerful people of high status for keeping the Chalcolithic community's ritual objects, as well as their harvest during the winter months each year ### 12. 12 Dr. Gregory Areshian initially underestimated the shoe's age, believing it to be _____ years old. 12 Dr. Gregory Areshian initially underestimated the shoe's age, believing it to be _____ years old. **答案**：600 to 700 原文定位：We initially thought that the shoe and other objects were about 600-700 years old ### 13. 13 The preservation of artifacts in the cave was aided by a thick layer of _____ covering the floor. 13 The preservation of artifacts in the cave was aided by a thick layer of _____ covering the floor. **答案**：sheep dung 原文定位：The floor of the cave was covered by thick layers of sheep dung, acting as a solid seal over the objects and preserving them beautifully over the millennia ### 2. 2 The cave where the shoe was found has been extensively documented since its discovery in 1997. 2 The cave where the shoe was found has been extensively documented since its discovery in 1997. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：The cave, first discovered in 1997, appears to have been used primarily by powerful people of high status for keeping the Chalcolithic community's ritual objects, as well as their harvest during the winter months each year ### 3. 3 The artifacts found in the cave suggest it was primarily used for storing agricultural products. 3 The artifacts found in the cave suggest it was primarily used for storing agricultural products. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：The cave, first discovered in 1997, appears to have been used primarily by powerful people of high status for keeping the Chalcolithic community's ritual objects, as well as their harvest during the winter months each year ### 4. 4 Dr. Gregory Areshian initially estimated the shoe's age to be much younger than its actual age. 4 Dr. Gregory Areshian initially estimated the shoe's age to be much younger than its actual age. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：Dr. Gregory Areshian of the University of California, Los Angeles, in the USA, said that the cave was also used by later civilizations, most recently by 14th-century Mongols, so he had assumed the shoe would be 600 to 700 years old;When separate laboratories at the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of California at Irvine in the USA carbon-dated the leather to 3653 to 3627 BC, he said, "We couldn't believe that a shoe could be so ancient ### 5. 5 The shoe was made from multiple pieces of leather sewn together. 5 The shoe was made from multiple pieces of leather sewn together. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：Made from a single piece of leather and shaped to fit the wearer's foot, it contained grass-its purpose uncertain, whether to keep the foot warmer or to maintain the shape of the shoe, perhaps a precursor to the modern shoe-tree ### 6. 6 The stable conditions in the cave contributed to the preservation of wheat and barley found there. 6 The stable conditions in the cave contributed to the preservation of wheat and barley found there. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：The stable, cool, and dry conditions in the cave resulted in exceptional preservation of the various objects that were found, which included large containers holding well-preserved wheat and barley, apricots, and other edible plants ### 7. 7 Diana Zardaryan, an Armenian PhD student, found the shoe alongside a complete pot. 7 Diana Zardaryan, an Armenian PhD student, found the shoe alongside a complete pot. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：The shoe's discovery was credited to Armenian PhD student Diana Zardaryan of the Institute of Archaeology, Armenia, who found it in a pit alongside a broken pot and wild goat horns ### 8. 8 The shoe was found with its original shoelaces intact. 8 The shoe was found with its original shoelaces intact. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：Reflecting on the find, Ms. Zardaryan remarked, "I was amazed to find that even the shoe-laces were preserved ### 9. Questions 9-13 Complete the summary below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet. 9 The shoe discovered in Armenia dates back approximately _____ years, making it older than the Egyptian pyramids. Questions 9-13 Complete the summary below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet. 9 The shoe discovered in Armenia dates back approximately _____ years, making it older than the Egyptian pyramids. **答案**：5,500;5500 原文定位：The 5,500-year-old shoe, some 1,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids, was found by scientists excavating a huge cave, designated Areni-1, in Armenia near the border of Turkey and Iran --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。