TOEFL iBT Integrated Writing Task

Stonehenge notes
Reading passage
Main idea: commonly held belief about Stonehenge (ancient stone structure s. Eng)
MP1 ---  many believe Stonehenge built by Druids
               --  Druids = Celtic high priests
               -- Stonehenge built for religious ceremonies
MP2 --- John Aubrey (17th C) proposed Driud idea
              -- chapter in Aubrey's book Monumenta Britannica
              -- advocates Druid idea
MP3 --- supported by Stukeley
              -- studied relationship Stonehenge/Druids
              -- scholarly work Stonehenge, A Temple Restored to the British Druids


Listening passage
Main idea: impossibility of this belief
MP1 --- 2 theories about Celts & Druids arrive Eng. 1500 or 800BC
MP2 --- radiocarbon data shows Stonehenge built in 3 phases
              -- 3000 BC, 2800BC, 2100BC
MP3 --- therefore Stonehenge NOT built by Druids


In this set of the materials, the reading passage discusses a commonly held belief about the construction of Stonehenge, but the listening passage states that this belief is quite impossible.

In the reading passage, we are told that most people believe Stonehenge, an ancient stone structure in the south of England, to have been constructed by the Druids, the high priests of the Celts. This belief was first  suggested almost 400 years ago by a man named James Aubrey. Aubrey was convinced that the Druids had built Stonehenge and put his ideas into writing in a chapter of his book Monumenta Britannica. Further support for this idea came from Dr. William Stukeley, writing a generation later, in his work Stonehenge, A Temple Restored to the British Druids.

In the listening passage, however, the impossibility of this idea is underlined.Two theories exist as to when the Celts, and therefore the Druids, arrived in England. One claims that they reached England around 1500 BC. The other theory suggests they came some centuries later in 800 BC.The age of Stonehenge, however, is failry well established. Radiocarbon dating shows Stonehenge to have been built in three separate periods. The first of these was around 3000 BC, the second 2800 BC and the last 2100 BC. As such, whatever theory of the Celts arrival in England is correct, Stonehenge was definitely in existance before the Celts came. It is impossible, therefore, for this structure to have been built by the Druids. (260 words)


In this set of the materials, the reading passage informs us about a commonly held belief about Stonehenge, but the listening passage states that this belief is mistaken.

In the reading passage, we are told that most people believe Stonehenge was constructed by the Druids, the high priests of the Celts. This idea came  from James Aubrey almost 400 years ago. He was sure the Druids had built Stonehenge. He was supported by Dr. William Stukeley, writing a generation later, in his work Stonehenge, A Temple Restored to the British Druids.

In the listening passage, however, we are shown that this belief is incorrect.Historians believe the Celts and their Druids arrived in Britain in either 1500 BC or in 800 BC.The age of Stonehenge, however, is failry well established. Radiocarbon dating shows Stonehenge to have been built in three separate periods between 3,000 BC and  2100 BC. It does not matter which date for the Celts arrival in England is correct, Stonehenge was definitely in existance before the Celts came. It is impossible, therefore, for this structure to have been built by the Druids. (184)


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Click here for listening transcript

Click here for sample notes

Click here for sample essay

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