The many small islands of the Pacific Ocean were uninhabited until around 2,000 years ago when the ancestors of today’s islanders traveled from Southeast Asia in ocean-going canoes. There is still ongoing debate regarding how they managed to migrate over such vast ocean distances without modern technology.
Early 20th-century writers often portrayed the migration as fleets of brave navigators setting sail together, but this view was later deemed exaggerated. A more critical examination came in 1956, when American historian Andrew Sharp published research that challenged this "heroic vision." He argued that navigators had limited skills and that the islands were settled more by chance, with canoes drifting randomly rather than through planned voyages. Although Sharp’s theory was widely criticized, it reignited interest in the topic and spurred valuable new research.
From the 1960s onward, a wealth of research was conducted, with most of it based on fieldwork rather than previous, often outdated, accounts found in travelers’ journals or missionary records. These earlier sources, compiled by untrained observers, had been the foundation for much of the limited progress in the field of Pacific voyaging. Sharp’s work marked a shift, leading researchers to engage in hands-on investigations.
In 1965, David Lewis, a physician and experienced sailor, approached the topic uniquely by personally navigating through the Pacific islands. He sought out and worked with men who still used traditional methods of sea navigation. On his voyages, modern instruments were hidden, though Lewis used them secretly to check the accuracy of the navigators' calculations. His most notable voyage was a 1,000-nautical-mile round trip between two islands. His findings contradicted Sharp’s theory: instead of drifting, ancient navigators used the stars to guide their boats, memorizing where certain stars appeared and disappeared on the horizon to determine direction.
Meanwhile, geographer Edwin Doran took a different approach. He focused on collecting precise data on how traditional sailing canoes performed. Doran employed advanced electronic instruments to measure canoe speeds, angles relative to wind, and performance in various wind conditions, from strong gales to complete calm. His work provided the first accurate data on the capabilities of these traditional vessels.
Physiologist Steven Horvath added another perspective, examining the physical endurance of the men who powered the canoes. By adapting physiological techniques, Horvath calculated how much energy was required to paddle when there was no wind or when the wind was against them. He concluded that paddles or long oars could indeed be used to propel what were primarily sailing vessels over long distances.
Finally, research by a team led by P. Wall Garrard utilized a different approach, relying on linguistics and computer simulations. Wall Garrard’s team studied the similarities in languages across Pacific islands, some of which are separated by thousands of kilometers. Using computer modeling, they proposed that the migrations were systematic but occurred in stages, rather than all at once as part of a single journey. According to this view, each voyage extended further into uncharted waters, pushing the boundaries of exploration.
What have these studies revealed about Pacific navigation and voyaging? Rather than proving or disproving any single theory, the strength of the research lies in the variety of methods used. Together, the findings suggest that ancient navigators used a range of canoe types, navigational techniques, and water sources, adapting their strategies based on the conditions they encountered at sea. Far from drifting aimlessly, the voyages were likely part of an organized migration. These Pacific peoples saw the ocean not as a barrier but as a route for exploration and communication, long before any other civilization.
One unexpected and positive outcome of this research has been the revival of traditional voyaging practices. In several Pacific island communities today, young people are learning and practicing the navigation skills of their ancestors, ensuring that these skills, once feared lost, continue to thrive.Question 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
1 The Pacific islands were uninhabited when migrants arrived by sea from Southeast Asia
2 Andrew Sharp was the first person to write about the migrants to islanders
3 Andrew Sharp believed migratory voyages were based on more on luck than skill
4 Despite being controversial, Andrew Sharp’s research had positive results
5 Edwin Doran disagreed with the findings of Lewis’s research
Questions 6-10
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet.
6. David Lewis’s research was different because
A he observed traditional navigators at work
B he conducted test voyages using his own yacht
C he carried no modern instruments on test voyages
D he spoke the same language as the islanders he sailed with
7. What did David Lewis’s research discover about traditional navigators?
A They used the sun and moon to find their position
B They could not sail further than about 1,000 nautical miles
C They knew which direction they were sailing in
D They were able to drift for long distances
8. What are we told about Edwin Doran’s research?
A Data were collected after the canoes had returned to land
B Canoe characteristics were recorded using modern instruments
C Research was conducted in the most densely populated regions
D Navigators were not allowed to see the instruments Doran used
9. Which of the following did Steven Horvath discover during his research?
A Canoe design was less important than human strength
B New research methods had to be developed for use in canoes
C Navigators became very tired on the longest voyages
D Human energy may have been used to assist sailing canoes
10. What is the writer’s opinion of p Wall Garrard’s research?
A He is disappointed it was conducted in the laboratory
B He is impressed by the originality of the techniques used
C He is surprised it was used to help linguists with their research
D He is concerned that the islands studied are long distances apart
Questions 11-14
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.
11 One limitation in the information produced by all of this research is that it
12 The best thing about this type of research
13 The most important achievement of traditional navigators
14 The migration of people from Asia to the Pacific
A was the variety of experimental techniques used
B was not of interest to young islanders today
c was not conclusive evidence in support of a single theory
D was being able to change their practices when necessary
E was the first time humans intentionally crossed an ocean
F was the speed with which it was conducted
Question 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage?
In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
1 The Pacific islands were uninhabited when migrants arrived by sea from Southeast Asia
2 Andrew Sharp was the first person to write about the migrants to islanders
3 Andrew Sharp believed migratory voyages were based on more on luck than skill
4 Despite being controversial, Andrew Sharp’s research had positive results
5 Edwin Doran disagreed with the findings of Lewis’s research
Questions 6-10
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet.
6. David Lewis’s research was different because
A he observed traditional navigators at work
B he conducted test voyages using his own yacht
C he carried no modern instruments on test voyages
D he spoke the same language as the islanders he sailed with
7. What did David Lewis’s research discover about traditional navigators?
A They used the sun and moon to find their position
B They could not sail further than about 1,000 nautical miles
C They knew which direction they were sailing in
D They were able to drift for long distances
8. What are we told about Edwin Doran’s research?
A Data were collected after the canoes had returned to land
B Canoe characteristics were recorded using modern instruments
C Research was conducted in the most densely populated regions
D Navigators were not allowed to see the instruments Doran used
9. Which of the following did Steven Horvath discover during his research?
A Canoe design was less important than human strength
B New research methods had to be developed for use in canoes
C Navigators became very tired on the longest voyages
D Human energy may have been used to assist sailing canoes
10. What is the writer’s opinion of p Wall Garrard’s research?
A He is disappointed it was conducted in the laboratory
B He is impressed by the originality of the techniques used
C He is surprised it was used to help linguists with their research
D He is concerned that the islands studied are long distances apart
Questions 11-14
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-F, below.
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.
11 One limitation in the information produced by all of this research is that it
12 The best thing about this type of research
13 The most important achievement of traditional navigators
14 The migration of people from Asia to the Pacific
A was the variety of experimental techniques used
B was not of interest to young islanders today
c was not conclusive evidence in support of a single theory
D was being able to change their practices when necessary
E was the first time humans intentionally crossed an ocean