RAPA NUI

According to the blog, when did the professor start her fieldwork?

• During the 1990s

• Nine months ago

• One year ago

• At the beginning of May

Answer explanation

FEEDBACK: Great job! You answered that the professor started her fieldwork nine months ago, and that's correct. To find this answer, you can look for clues in the blog. The professor mentions that she has been studying the moai for the past nine months, which tells us when her fieldwork began. When you're reading something like this, it's helpful to pay attention to specific time frames mentioned by the author.

Refer to the Professor’s Blog on the right. Type your answer to the question.

 

In the last paragraph of the blog, the professor writes: “Another mystery remained...”

 

To what mystery does she refer?

Answer explanation

FEEDBACK: The question is about what happened to the plants and large trees that were used to move the moai statues. Understand that she sees only small trees and shrubs now, which means there are no big trees left for moving those heavy statues. This is a key point.

To improve your answer, you could make it a bit clearer by organizing your thoughts into separate sentences. Start with stating what the mystery is, then explain why it's a mystery based on what the professor observed from her window.

Listed below are statements from the Review of Collapse. Which are facts?

• In the book, the author describes several civilizations that collapsed because of the choices they made and their impact on the environment.

• One of the most disturbing examples in the book is Rapa Nui.

• They carved the moai, the famous statues, and used the natural resources available to them to move those huge moai to different locations around the island.

• When the first Europeans landed on Easter Island in 1722, the moai were still there, but the trees were gone.

• The book is written well and deserves to be read by anyone who is concerned about the environment.

Answer explanation

Choice 1. It is about civilizations collapsing due to their choices, which is a fact.

Choice 3. The statement about carving the moai and using resources is indeed a fact.

Choice 4. It is a fact since it describes what happened when Europeans arrived on Rapa Nui in 1722.

Listed below are statements from the Review of Collapse. Which are examples of opinion?

• In the book, the author describes several civilizations that collapsed because of the choices they made and their impact on the environment.

• One of the most disturbing examples in the book is Rapa Nui.

• They carved the moai, the famous statues, and used the natural resources available to them to move those huge moai to different locations around the island.

• When the first Europeans landed on Easter Island in 1722, the moai were still there, but the trees were gone.

• The book is written well and deserves to be read by anyone who is concerned about the environment.

Answer explanation

Choice 2. The phrase "one of the most disturbing examples" shows a personal feeling or judgment rather than just stating information.

Choice 5. It expresses a personal view about the book being well-written and deserving to be read.

To improve your answers in the future, try to identify whether a statement is purely factual (just stating something that can be proven) or if it includes personal feelings or judgments.

What do the scientists mentioned in the article and Jared Diamond agree on?

• Humans settled Rapa Nui hundreds of years ago.

• Large trees have disappeared from Rapa Nui.

• Polynesian rats ate the seeds of large trees in Rapa Nui.

• Europeans arrived on Rapa Nui in the 18th century.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is that large trees have disappeared from Rapa Nui. Both Jared Diamond and the scientists mentioned in the article agree on this fact.

To improve your answers, try to focus on what all parties in the text agree upon rather than just one part of it. When you read a question, look for key phrases like "agree on" to help guide your thinking.

What evidence do Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt present to support their theory of why the large trees of Rapa Nui disappeared?

• The rats arrived on the island on settler's canoes.

• The rats may have been brought by the settlers purposefully.

• Rats populations can double every 47 days.

• The remains of palm nuts show gnaw marks made by rats.

Answer explanation

The evidence that Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt present is indeed about the remains of palm nuts showing gnaw marks made by rats. This detail helps support their theory about how the Polynesian rat contributed to the disappearance of large trees on Rapa Nui.

To improve your understanding, it can be helpful to think about why this evidence is important. It shows a direct link between the rats and the trees, which makes their argument stronger.

What do Lipo and Hunt suggest was the effect of the deforestation caused by Polynesian rats?

• • The environment quickly fell apart.

• The environment changed slowly, and people adjusted to it.

• Rats populations can double every 47 days.

• The remains of palm nuts show gnaw marks made by rats.

Answer explanation

The evidence that Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt present is indeed about the remains of palm nuts showing gnaw marks made by rats. This detail helps support their theory about how the Polynesian rat contributed to the disappearance of large trees on Rapa Nui.

To improve your understanding, it can be helpful to think about why this evidence is important. It shows a direct link between the rats and the trees, which makes their argument stronger.

• According to Lipo and Hunt, what played a significant role in the deforestation of Rapa Nui?

• • Climate variations

• • Polynesian rats eating tree seeds

• • Volcanic activities

• • Arrival of Europeans

Answer explanation

Polynesian rats ate tree seeds, which stopped new trees from growing. This reflects Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt's theory perfectly.

• What do Lipo, Hunt, and Jared Diamond suggest was the effect of the deforestation caused by Polynesian rats?

• • The moai were carved in the same quarry.

• • Large trees disappeared from Rapa Nui.

• • Polynesian rats ate trees seeds and as a result no new trees could grow.

• Humans cut down trees to clear land for agricultural and other reasons.

Answer explanation

For the first cause, humans cut down trees to clear land for farming and other uses. This shows you understood Jared Diamond's point well.

For the second cause, you also nailed it by saying that Polynesian rats ate tree seeds, which stopped new trees from growing. This reflects Carl Lipo and Terry Hunt's theory perfectly.

Finally, your choice for the common effect is spot on too; the large trees did indeed disappear from Rapa Nui.

To improve even further, try to think about why these events are important and how they connect to each other. Understanding the bigger picture can help deepen your knowledge.

• What does Jared Diamond suggest was the cause of the deforestation?

• • The moai were carved in the same quarry.

• • Large trees disappeared from Rapa Nui.

• • Polynesian rats ate trees seeds and as a result no new trees could grow.

• Humans cut down trees to clear land for agricultural and other reasons.

Answer explanation

For the first cause, humans cut down trees to clear land for farming and other uses. This shows you understood Jared Diamond's point well.