Student: Carlos Frederico Meschini AlmeidaLevel: TOEFL Preparatory

3rd Composition: “An Essay”

In this set of materials, the reading passage states that Stonehenge

was constructed by the Druids. However, the listening passage

contradicts this piece of information, stating that radium carbon tests

proved that the rocks which compose Stonehenge had already been

in that place before the Druids occupied that region.

Firstly, in the reading passage some general information about

Stonehenge is exposed, as the size and the weight of the rocks, and

how they are displaced. Moreover, it is described two historical facts

related with it. Each one of these two historical facts refers to a

person who has studied the origin of Stonehenge, and both of them

concluded that it was probably constructed by the Druids, who should

use it as a place to conduct religious ceremonies.

On the other hand, the listening passage completely contradicts the

hypothesis stated in the reading passage. The listening passage

describes that radium carbon tests were conduct with the rocks that

make part of the Stonehenge, and they stated that Stonehenge dates

from a period that the Druids have not reached those regions yet. The

tests also gave some details about the construction of Stonehenge, as

that it were probably built in three different phases, in different

periods of time.

To sum up, as the listening gives us facts that are supported with

some scientific information, which is much more reliable, the

information in the reading passage is completely contradicted, losing

all its belief.