# The history of shell

- 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4）
- 最近考试：2026.10.12西安IDP曲江新区
- 题目数：10
- 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/cee6ce35-87e3-4fce-9ddd-eec3d6258ade（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

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 Good morning. 
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 Today we're going to look at something small, beautiful, and surprisingly important in human history: shells and the many roles they have played, from jewelry to money. 
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 Shells have been used as personal decoration for a remarkably long time. We know that shells were used to make necklaces about two thousand years ago, and probably much earlier. 
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 Some of the earliest shell jewelry ever found comes from archaeological sites in Mexico, where ancient craftsmen drilled and polished shells with astonishing skill. 
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 What made a shell valuable? Appearance, mostly. Shells with a shiny interior were especially prized in jewelry because the inside of the shell, once polished, glows like pearl. 
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 Shells were not only worn around the neck. They were also arranged in patterns to decorate clothing and textiles, sewn onto ceremonial robes as a display of wealth and status. 
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 They had practical uses, too. In farming communities, shells were used as tools to separate corn kernels from the cob. The hard, curved edge of a large shell does the job surprisingly well. 
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 Most fascinating of all is the cowrie shell, which was used as money in trade across Africa and Asia. 
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 Cowries were durable, portable, and almost impossible to counterfeit. 
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 With cowrie currency, the total weight of the shells showed their value. Merchants simply weighed a pile rather than counting individual shells. 
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 Cowries also carried meaning. In jewelry, they symbolized fertility and prosperity, which is why they so often appear in bridal ornaments. 
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 Two final curiosities. Shells carried home by pilgrims have been found in Northern Spain, marking the great medieval walking routes. 
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 And in some Pacific cultures, shell piles were given to men on their wedding day as a symbol of their new responsibilities.

## 题目与答案

### 31. The History of Shells Shells as Jewellery 31 Shells were used to make _____ about two thousand years ago

The History of Shells Shells as Jewellery 31 Shells were used to make _____ about two thousand years ago

**答案**：necklaces

原文定位：We know that shells were used to make necklaces about two thousand years ago, and probably much earlier

### 32. 32 Early shell jewellery was found at sites in _____ .

32 Early shell jewellery was found at sites in _____ .

**答案**：Mexico

原文定位：Some of the earliest shell jewelry ever found comes from archaeological sites in Mexico, where ancient craftsmen drilled and polished shells with astonishing skill

### 33. 33 Shells with a _____ interior were prized in jewellery.

33 Shells with a _____ interior were prized in jewellery.

**答案**：shiny

原文定位：Shells with a shiny interior were especially prized in jewelry because the inside of the shell, once polished, glows like pearl

### 34. 34 Shells were arranged in patterns to decorate _____ and textiles.

34 Shells were arranged in patterns to decorate _____ and textiles.

**答案**：clothing

原文定位：They were also arranged in patterns to decorate clothing and textiles, sewn onto ceremonial robes as a display of wealth and status

### 35. Practical and Monetary Uses 35 Shells were used as tools to separate _____ kernels.

Practical and Monetary Uses 35 Shells were used as tools to separate _____ kernels.

**答案**：corn

原文定位：In farming communities, shells were used as tools to separate corn kernels from the cob

### 36. 36 Cowrie shells were used as _____ in trade.

36 Cowrie shells were used as _____ in trade.

**答案**：money

原文定位：Most fascinating of all is the cowrie shell, which was used as money in trade across Africa and Asia

### 37. 37 The total _____ of cowrie shells showed their value.

37 The total _____ of cowrie shells showed their value.

**答案**：weight

原文定位：With cowrie currency, the total weight of the shells showed their value

### 38. 38 Cowrie shells symbolised _____ and prosperity in jewellery.

38 Cowrie shells symbolised _____ and prosperity in jewellery.

**答案**：fertility

原文定位：Cowries also carried meaning. In jewelry, they symbolized fertility and prosperity, which is why they so often appear in bridal ornaments

### 39. Two Final Curiosities 39 Shells carried by pilgrims were found in northern _____ .

Two Final Curiosities 39 Shells carried by pilgrims were found in northern _____ .

**答案**：Spain

原文定位：Shells carried home by pilgrims have been found in Northern Spain, marking the great medieval walking routes

### 40. 40 Shells were given to men on their _____ day.

40 Shells were given to men on their _____ day.

**答案**：wedding

原文定位：And in some Pacific cultures, shell piles were given to men on their wedding day as a symbol of their new responsibilities

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