1. Read the excerpt from “Egyptian Tombs: A Grave Matter.”
From the twenty-fifth century BCE, pharaohs’ tombs were located inside grand pyramids. The pyramids served as giant grave markers; however, they also served as treasure markers for grave robbers. These wicked people would strip the tombs bare of all valuables. Then they would sell the stolen items for a large amount of money. Stealing from the dead was bad enough, but for the ancient Egyptians, the act also threatened the pharaoh’s afterlife.
Based on the details in the excerpt, what conclusion can be drawn about the pharaohs of ancient Egypt?
A. They went to great lengths to ensure that their tombs would not be robbed.
B. They had little worry about their tombs being invaded by grave robbers.
C. They thought that giant grave markers would protect them against grave robbers.
D. They placed more emphasis on their current lives than on their afterlives.
2. Read this excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin.
Only those Egyptians who needed the knowledge for their professions learned how to read and write. These included government officials, doctors, and priests, as well as the scribes who did the actual writing on papyrus and stone.
After reading this excerpt, readers can infer that
1. Egyptians had no reason to read or write
2. Egyptian women often learned to read and write
3. Many Egyptian children learned to read and write in school
4. Most Egyptian children were not taught to read and write