Pyramid of Cheops Reading Answers

Sep 11, 2024

Pyramid of Cheops Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Pyramid of Cheops Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total.In the questions set there are three types of questions - one where you have to tell whether the statement are true or false, another you have to fill in the blanks in the image and at last fill in the blanks with correct answers.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers feature topics such as Pyramid of Cheops Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

Section 1

PYRAMID OF CHEOPS

The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering present-day Giza in Greater Cairo, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.

Based on a mark in an interior chamber naming the work gang and a reference to the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, some Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was thus built as a tomb over a 10- to 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC, though the evidence is far from conclusive on this. Initially standing at 146.5 metres, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years until Lincoln Cathedral was finished in 1311 AD. Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by limestone casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface, and in ancient times it must have looked like a spectacular single shiny white block of stone; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. Many alternative, often contradictory, theories have been proposed regarding the pyramid's construction techniques. Many disagree on whether the blocks were dragged, lifted, or even rolled into place. The Greeks believed that slave labour was used, but modern discoveries made at nearby workers' camps associated with construction at Giza suggest that it could have been built instead by tens of thousands of skilled workers. Verner posited that the labour was organized into a hierarchy, consisting of two gangs of 100,000 men, divided into five zaa or phyle of 20,000 men each, which may have been further divided according to the skills of the workers.

One mystery of the pyramid's construction is its planning. John Romer suggests that they used the same method that had been used for earlier and later constructions, laying out parts of the plan on the ground at a 1-to-1 scale. He writes that "such a working diagram would also serve to generate the architecture of the pyramid with precision unmatched by any other means". He also argues for a 14-year time-span for its construction. A modern construction management study, in association with Mark Lehner and other Egyptologists, estimated that the total project required an average workforce of about 14,500 people and a peak workforce of roughly 40,000. Without the use of pulleys, wheels, or iron tools, they used critical path analysis methods, which suggest that the Great Pyramid was completed from start to finish in approximately 10 years.

The original entrance to the Great Pyramid is on the northern side, 17 metres vertically above ground level and 7.29 metres east of the center line of the pyramid. From this original entrance, there is the Descending passage 0.96 metres high and 1.04 metres wide, which goes down at an angle of 26° 31'23" through the masonry of the pyramid and then into the bedrock beneath it. After 105.23 metres, the passage becomes level and continues for an additional 8.84 metres to the Lower Chamber, which appears not to have been finished. There is a continuation of the horizontal passage in the south wall of the lower chamber; there is also a pit dug in the floor of the chamber. It's possible that this Lower Chamber was intended to be the original burial chamber, but Pharaoh Khufu later changed his mind and wanted it to be higher up in the pyramid. 28.2 metres from the entrance is a square hole in the roof of the Descending Passage. Originally concealed with a slab of stone, this is the beginning of the Ascending Passage.

The Ascending Passage is 39.3 metres long, as wide and high as the Descending Passage, and slopes up at almost precisely the same angle to reach the Grand Gallery. At the start of the Grand Gallery on the right-hand side there is a hole cut in the wall. This is the start of a vertical shaft which follows an irregular path through the masonry of the pyramid to join the Descending Passage. Also at the start of the Grand Gallery there is the Horizontal Passage leading to the Queen's Chamber. The passage is 1.1m high for most of its length, but near the chamber there is a step in the floor, after which the passage is 1.73 metres high. At the other end of the Grand Gallery is the narrow tunnel that is used to access the King's Chamber.

Questions 28-32

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in

passage 3?

Yes - if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer

No - if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer

Not Given - if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

It is certain that the Great Pyramid was built as a tomb.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: “......Based on a mark in an interior chamber naming the work gang and a reference to the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, some Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was thus built as a tomb over .......”

Keyword: believe, not conclusive

Keyword location: para 1, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The statement in the passage clarifies that while some Egyptologists believe the pyramid was built as a tomb, the evidence is inconclusive. This shows that it is not certain that the pyramid was built for this purpose, contradicting the statement.

A long time ago, the Great Pyramid's appearance would have been extremely impressive and different from its current appearance.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: “........Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by limestone casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface...what is seen today is the underlying core structure.....”

Keyword: originally, smooth

Keyword location: para 2, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage highlights that the pyramid originally had a smooth outer surface, very different from what is seen today. This confirms that its appearance in the past was indeed more impressive and different.

The various ideas about how the Great Pyramid was constructed tend to disagree on the kinds of blocks used.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage does not mention any disagreements about the types of blocks used in the construction of the pyramid. It only discusses how the blocks were moved, making it impossible to determine whether such disagreements exist.

The Great Pyramid was built by skilled workers, not slaves.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: While the passage hints at the possibility that skilled workers built the pyramid, it does not provide definitive evidence to confirm this, nor does it explicitly state that slaves were not involved. Therefore, this information is not clearly presented in the text.

The Lower Chamber may have been intended for another purpose originally.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: “.......It's possible that this Lower Chamber was intended to be the original burial chamber, but Pharaoh Khufu later changed his mind......”

Keyword: intended, changed

Keyword location: para 4, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The passage suggests that the Lower Chamber might have originally been meant to be the burial chamber but was repurposed later. This supports the idea that it may have been intended for another purpose initially.

Questions 33-36

Label the elements of the diagram of the Great Pyramid of Giza using words from the box.

THE GREAT PYRAMID

Ascending Passage

Lower Chamber

Bedrock

Irregular path

King's Chamber

Pit

Queen's Chamber

Vertical shaft

Q.33

Answer: KING’S CHAMBER

Supporting statement: “......At the other end of the Grand Gallery is the narrow tunnel that is used to access the King's Chamber.......”

Keyword: tunnel, King's

Keyword location: para 5, Line 3

Explanation: The passage indicates that the narrow tunnel at the end of the Grand Gallery leads to the King's Chamber, helping to correctly label this section of the diagram.

Q.34

Answer: QUEEN’S CHAMBER

Supporting statement: “.......Also at the start of the Grand Gallery, there is the Horizontal Passage leading to the Queen's Chamber......”

Keyword: Passage, Queen's Chamber

Keyword location: para 5, Line 1

Explanation: The passage notes that the Horizontal Passage at the start of the Grand Gallery leads to the Queen's Chamber, confirming its placement in the diagram.

Q.35

Answer: LOWER CHAMBER

Supporting statement: “.......The passage becomes level and continues for an additional 8.84 meters to the Lower Chamber, which appears not to have been finished......”

Keyword: Chamber, additional

Keyword location: para 4, Line 5

Explanation: The passage describes the Lower Chamber as being located at the end of the Descending Passage, helping in correctly identifying its position on the diagram.

Q.36

Answer: ASCENDING PASSAGE

Supporting statement: “......Originally concealed with a slab of stone, this is the beginning of the Ascending Passage.......”

Keyword: beginning, Ascending

Keyword location: para 4, Line 10

Explanation: The passage explains that the Ascending Passage starts at a square hole in the roof of the Descending Passage, allowing it to be accurately labeled on the diagram.

Questions 37-40

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Which building was the first to have a height exceeding that of the Great Pyramid of Giza?

Answer: LINCOLN CATHEDRAL

Supporting statement: “.......the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years until Lincoln Cathedral was finished in 1311 AD......”

Keyword: tallest, Lincoln

Keyword location: para 2, Line 1

Explanation: The passage specifies that Lincoln Cathedral surpassed the Great Pyramid as the tallest structure. It makes it the first building to exceed the pyramid’s height.

Where can some of the limestone which used to form the entire exterior surface of the pyramid now be found?

Answer: AROUND THE BASE

Supporting statement: “.......Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base.......”

Keyword: stones, around

Keyword location: para 2, Line 4

Explanation: The passage states that some of the original limestone casing stones remain visible around the pyramid’s base. This indicates where these remnants can be found today.

Where was the evidence found which points to the

involvement of a large number of skilled laborers in the building of the Great Pyramid?

Answer: NEARBY WORKERS’ CAMPS

Supporting statement: “......modern discoveries made at nearby workers' camps associated with construction at Giza suggest that it could have been built instead by tens of thousands of skilled workers........”

Keyword: camps, skilled

Keyword location: para 3, Line 5

Explanation: The passage reveals that evidence from nearby workers' camps suggests that skilled laborers, not slaves, were involved in constructing the pyramid.

Which of the inner chambers of the Great Pyramid seems to be incomplete?

Answer: THE LOWER CHAMBER

Supporting statement: “.......The Lower Chamber, which appears not to have been finished......”

Keyword: Chamber, finished

Keyword location: para 4, Line 6

Explanation: The passage specifically states that the Lower Chamber appears to be unfinished. This detail answers the question by indicating that the Lower Chamber is the one that seems incomplete.

Read More IELTS Reading Related Samples