The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers, IELTS Passage

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers: The IELTS Reading test, “The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers”, includes a total of 13 questions in various categories, including Matching Headings, Sentence Completion, and True False Not Given. Candidates should aim to complete these sample questions within 20 minutes to effectively manage their time in the IELTS Reading test, which lasts 60 minutes. Practicing The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers will help aspirants improve their comprehension skills and familiarize themselves with the IELTS Reading module.

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The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers Passage

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on the reading passage below.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser

1. The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for people in the present day. These grand, impressive tributes to the memory of the Egyptian kings have become linked with the country even though other cultures, such as the Chinese and Mayan, also built pyramids. The evolution of the pyramid form has been written and argued about for centuries. However, there is no question that, as far as Egypt is concerned, it began with one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect: the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara.
2. Djoser was the first king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt and the first to build in stone. Prior to Djoser’s reign, tombs were rectangular monuments made of dried clay brick, which covered underground passages where the deceased person was buried. For reasons which remain unclear, Djoser’s main official, whose name was Imhotep, conceived of building a taller, more impressive tomb for his king by stacking stone slabs on top of one another, progressively making them smaller, to form the shape now known as the Step Pyramid. Djoser is thought to have reigned for 19 years, but some historians and scholars attribute a much longer time for his rule, owing to the number and size of the monuments he built.
3. The Step Pyramid has been thoroughly examined and investigated over the last century, and it is now known that the building process went through many different stages. Historian Marc Van de Mieroop comments on this, writing, ‘Much experimentation was involved, which is especially clear in the construction of the pyramid in the centre of the complex. It had several plans … before it became the first Step Pyramid in history, piling six levels on top of one another … The weight of the enormous mass was a challenge for the builders, who placed the stones at an inward incline in order to prevent the monument from breaking up.’
4. When finally completed, the Step Pyramid rose 62 meters high and was the tallest structure of its time. The complex in which it was built was the size of a city in ancient Egypt and included a temple, courtyards, shrines, and living quarters for the priests. It covered a region of 16 hectares and was surrounded by a wall 10.5 meters high. The wall had 13 false doors cut into it with only one true entrance cut into the south-east corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 meters long and 40 meters wide. The false doors and the trench were incorporated into the complex to discourage unwanted visitors. If someone wished to enter, he or she would have needed to know in advance how to find the location of the true opening in the wall. Djoser was so proud of his accomplishment that he broke the tradition of having only his own name on the monument and had Imhotep’s name carved on it as well.
5. The burial chamber of the tomb, where the king’s body was laid to rest, was dug beneath the base of the pyramid, surrounded by a vast maze of long tunnels that had rooms off them to discourage robbers. One of the most mysterious discoveries found inside the pyramid was a large number of stone vessels. Over 40,000 of these vessels, of various forms and shapes, were discovered in storerooms off the pyramid’s underground passages. They are inscribed with the names of rulers from the First and Second Dynasties of Egypt and made from different kinds of stone. There is no agreement among scholars and archaeologists on why the vessels were placed in the tomb of Djoser or what they were supposed to represent. The archaeologist Jean-Philippe Lauer, who excavated most of the pyramid and complex, believes they were originally stored and then given a ‘proper burial’ by Djoser in his pyramid to honour his predecessors. There are other historians, however, who claim the vessels were dumped into the shafts as yet another attempt to prevent grave robbers from getting to the king’s burial chamber.
6. Unfortunately, all of the precautions and intricate design of the underground network did not prevent ancient robbers from finding a way in. Djoser’s grave goods, and even his body, were stolen at some point in the past and all archaeologists found were a small number of his valuables overlooked by the thieves. There was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex, however, to astonish and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it.
7. Egyptologist Miroslav Verner writes, ‘Few monuments hold a place in human history as significant as that of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara … It can be said without exaggeration that this pyramid complex constitutes a milestone in the evolution of monumental stone architecture in Egypt and in the world as a whole.’ The Step Pyramid was a revolutionary advance in architecture and became the archetype which all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers Sample Questions

Questions 1-6

The Reading Passage has SEVEN sections, A-G.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

1. The reason why Imhotep built a pyramid instead of a rectangular tomb.
2. The dimensions and security features of the pyramid complex.
3. The different construction stages of the Step Pyramid.
4. The theft of Djoser’s burial goods.
5. The worldwide historical significance of the Step Pyramid.
6. The discovery and mystery surrounding the stone vessels.

Questions 7-10

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-E, below.
Write the correct letter, A-E, in boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.

7. The purpose of the false doors and trench was to...
8. The pyramid’s underground tunnels were designed to...
9. Djoser allowed Imhotep’s name to be inscribed on the pyramid because...
10. Some historians believe that the stone vessels were buried with Djoser to...

A. confuse and mislead grave robbers.
B. honour rulers from earlier dynasties.
C. discourage people from entering the pyramid complex.
D. acknowledge his architect’s contribution.
E. provide storage space for priests.

Questions 11-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet, write:

• TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
• FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
• NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

11. The Step Pyramid was the first pyramid to be built in Egypt.
12. All of the stone vessels found in the Step Pyramid were made from the same type of stone.
13. The Step Pyramid remained untouched by grave robbers until modern archaeologists discovered it.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers with Explanations 

1. The reason why Imhotep built a pyramid instead of a rectangular tomb

• Answer: B

• Location: Paragraph B

• Reference: “For reasons which remain unclear, Djoser’s main official, whose name was Imhotep, conceived of building a taller, more impressive tomb for his king by stacking stone slabs on top of one another...”

• Explanation: Imhotep wanted to build a more impressive structure instead of the usual rectangular tomb, leading to the creation of the Step Pyramid.

2. The dimensions and security features of the pyramid complex

• Answer: D

• Location: Paragraph D

• Reference: “The complex in which it was built was the size of a city... It covered a region of 16 hectares and was surrounded by a wall 10.5 meters high... The false doors and the trench were incorporated into the complex to discourage unwanted visitors.”

• Explanation: This paragraph describes the size, walls, doors, and trench used for security.

3. The different construction stages of the Step Pyramid

• Answer: C

• Location: Paragraph C

• Reference: “The Step Pyramid has been thoroughly examined and investigated... It had several plans … before it became the first Step Pyramid in history, piling six levels on top of one another...”

• Explanation: The paragraph explains how the pyramid went through multiple construction phases before reaching its final form.

4. The theft of Djoser’s burial goods

• Answer: F

• Location: Paragraph F

• Reference: “Unfortunately, all of the precautions and intricate design of the underground network did not prevent ancient robbers from finding a way in. Djoser’s grave goods, and even his body, were stolen...”

• Explanation: Despite the security measures, robbers managed to steal Djoser’s grave goods.

5. The worldwide historical significance of the Step Pyramid

• Answer: G

• Location: Paragraph G

• Reference: “Few monuments hold a place in human history as significant as that of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara... this pyramid complex constitutes a milestone in the evolution of monumental stone architecture.”

• Explanation: This paragraph highlights the Step Pyramid's importance in global architectural history.

6. The discovery and mystery surrounding the stone vessels

• Answer: E

• Location: Paragraph E

• Reference: “One of the most mysterious discoveries found inside the pyramid was a large number of stone vessels... There is no agreement among scholars and archaeologists on why the vessels were placed in the tomb of Djoser...”

• Explanation: The paragraph describes the discovery of the stone vessels and the debate over their purpose.

7. The purpose of the false doors and trench was to...

• Answer: C (discourage people from entering the pyramid complex)

• Location: Paragraph D

• Reference: “The false doors and the trench were incorporated into the complex to discourage unwanted visitors.”

• Explanation: The false doors and trench were security features to prevent unauthorized entry.

8. The pyramid’s underground tunnels were designed to...

• Answer: A (confuse and mislead grave robbers)

• Location: Paragraph E

• Reference: “The burial chamber of the tomb... was dug beneath the base of the pyramid, surrounded by a vast maze of long tunnels that had rooms off them to discourage robbers.”

• Explanation: The underground tunnels were meant to confuse grave robbers.

9. Djoser allowed Imhotep’s name to be inscribed on the pyramid because...

• Answer: D (acknowledge his architect’s contribution)

• Location: Paragraph D

• Reference: “Djoser was so proud of his accomplishment that he broke the tradition of having only his own name on the monument and had Imhotep’s name carved on it as well.”

• Explanation: Djoser honored Imhotep by including his name on the pyramid.

10. Some historians believe that the stone vessels were buried with Djoser to...

• • Answer: B (honour rulers from earlier dynasties)

  • Location: Paragraph E

  • Reference: “Jean-Philippe Lauer... believes they were originally stored and then given a ‘proper burial’ by Djoser in his pyramid to honour his predecessors.”

  • Explanation: Some historians think the vessels were buried to pay respect to previous rulers.

11. The Step Pyramid was the first pyramid to be built in Egypt.

• • Answer: TRUE

  • Location: Paragraph A

  • Reference: “However, there is no question that, as far as Egypt is concerned, it began with one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect: the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara.”

  • Explanation: The passage states that the Step Pyramid was the first pyramid built in Egypt.

12. All of the stone vessels found in the Step Pyramid were made from the same type of stone.

• • Answer: FALSE

  • Location: Paragraph E

  • Reference: “They are inscribed with the names of rulers from the First and Second Dynasties of Egypt and made from different kinds of stone.”

  • Explanation: The vessels were made from various types of stone, not just one.

13. The Step Pyramid remained untouched by grave robbers until modern archaeologists discovered it.

• • Answer: FALSE

  • Location: Paragraph F

  • Reference: “Unfortunately, all of the precautions and intricate design of the underground network did not prevent ancient robbers from finding a way in.”

  • Explanation: The passage confirms that ancient grave robbers looted the pyramid long before archaeologists explored it.

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