Read the passage below and then answer questions 39 to 50 One of the most amazing things about the discovery of a 2,000 year old cemetery in the Bahariyah Oasis in Egypt was that no one was looking for it. No one even knew it existed. It had been completely buried by sand. In 1996, a donkey belonging to a guard at the neraby temple stumbled into a hole in the sand a mile from the temple. When the guard peered into the hole, he saw something shining brightly. He reported the discovery to Egyptian archaeologists right away. However, the archaeologists did not begin serious digging immediately. They did not have the workers or the money. So they made a quick survey of the site, and then covered everything up again. They wanted to hid it from thieves and protect it from exposure to the sun and weather. Finally, in 1999, they had enough money to begin exploring the site. On their very first day of work, after digging only several feet into the sand, they found a lot of mummies. Mummies are dead bodies that have been preserved for a long time. They are mostly found in Egypt. One of them had an especially beautiful mask. It was no a pharao’s mummy, though. It turned out that none of the tombs in this cemetery belonged to royalty. Most of the people buried here came from families that grew rich by trading in wine. The most spectacular of these mummies have masks made of plaster covered with a thin layer of gold. Many are in wonderful condition. And because grave robbers never found these tombs, everything that was buried with them is still there. Most of the mummies have been left where they were found, but a few of the best preserved ones are on display in the Bahariya Museum, where the public can take a look at them. Two mummies were found lying side by side and were probably a husband and a wife. His mask and chest plate were decorated with religious figures. Her head was turned in his direction, indicating that the husband had died first. The other mummies are of children. Archaeologists think they were brother and sister because they were found together. The boy was probably about five years old. His mask with its painted eyes and features are so real – he almost seems alive! Did archaeologists find treasures in these tombs? It depends on what you mean by ‘treasures’. They have not found any solid gold, but they have discovered all sorts of objects. The people buried in the cemetery may have thought some of these items would be useful in the afterlife. Or some may have been intended as gifts to the gods. For example, archaeologists have unearthed small statues of various gods. They have found many pieces of jewellery – necklaces, bracelets and anklets – made of copper, glass, ivory and semi-precious stones. They have also discovered many pottery pieces used for storing, cooking or serving food. There were some bronze Greek and Roman coins too. And in the children’s tombs, they found toys – carved animals for the children to play with in the afterlife. Archaeologists will be able to learn more about these people and their way of life by further studying their mummies and the things buried with them. And so many mummies were buried in the valley of Golden Mummies that excavation and learning will continue at the site for years to come. (Adapted from secrets of past by World Book, Inc. 2002) 39. The discovery of the 2,000 year old cemetery in Bhariyah was A. Very sudden B. Really surprising C. Quite accidental D. Extremely important 40. Who actually discovered the cemetery? A. The guard B. The donkey C. The archaeologists D. The egyptians 41. What can we tell about the archaeologists from the information in the third paragraph? A. They did not do things in a hurry B. They had a lot of digging to do C. They received reports from guards D. They did not have much money 42. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage? A. Robbers can interfere with the mummies B. Thieves have also discovered the cemetery C. Exposure to the weather can affect the mummies D. There was enough sand to cover the cemetery 43. The first day of digging can be described as A. Very stressful B. Quite amazing C. Very successful D. Quite interesting 44. “none of the tombs in this cemetery belonged to royalty” means that A. The royal family did not own that cemetery B. Members of the royal family were not buried there C. It was not good enough for kings and queens D. You do not bury such important people anywhere 45. What evidence is there that people buried there were rich? A. They traded in wine B. They were well preserved C. Their bodies were beautifully decorated D. Their masks are covered with a layer of gold 46. What can we assume about the culture of the people buried in this cemetery? A. Members of the same family were buried together B. The people were buried side by side C. The woman was supposed to face her husband D. They used masks in their religious ceremonies 47. According to the passage, the word ‘treasures’ A. Means different things to different people B. Is an important word in the passage C. Refers to all sorts of objects D. Refers to items found in tombs 48. It is obvious that the people in the community believed A. They would meet some gods later B. These gods expected some gifts C. There was life after death D. They needed some items after dying 49. The word unearthed means A. Removed B. Discovered C. Exposed D. Recovered 50. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? A. The unusual discovery B. The mummies of Bahariyah C. The wonders of Ancient Egypt D. The work of archaeologists Click here to learn how to be a member in order to get answers. If you still are a member, click here to download answers
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AuthorMaurice A. Nyamoti is a teacher by profession and has passion for assisting students improve performance Archives
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