CBSE Class 11 English Discovering Tut The Saga Continues Worksheet Set 03

Extract-based Questions

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

In his defence, Carter really had little choice. If he hadn’t cut the mummy free, thieves most certainly would have circumvented the guards and ripped it apart to remove the gold. In Tut’s time the royals were fabulously wealthy, and they thought — or hoped — they could take their riches with them.

Question. What did the royals of Egypt think in ancient times?
Answer: The royals of Egypt in ancient times believed that they could take their earthly riches with them into the afterlife.

Question. How did Carter’s men remove the gold from the mummy?
(a) By hardening the resins
(b) By softening the resins
(c) By chiseling the body
(d) None of the options
Answer: (c) By chiseling the body

Question. What does the word ‘circumvent’ mean?
Answer: ‘Circumvent’ means to find a way around an obstacle or a set of rules, often in a clever or surreptitious way.

Back in the trailer a technician pulled up astonishing images of Tut on a computer screen. A grey head took shape from a scattering of pixels, and the technician spun and tilted it in every direction. Neck vertebrae appeared as clearly as in an anatomy class. Other images revealed a hand, several views of the rib cage, and a transection of the skull. But for now the pressure was off. Sitting back in his chair, Zahi Hawass smiled, visibly relieved that nothing had gone seriously wrong. “I didn’t sleep last night, not for a second,” he said.

Question. Who was Zahi Hawass?
Answer: Zahi Hawass was the Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Question. What was he worried about?
Answer: He was worried that something might go wrong during the CT scan of the mummy, which was already in a very fragile state after Howard Carter's investigation.

Question. Why was Zahi Hawass relieved?
(a) Because he could capture clear images of the mummy
(b) Because the scan revealed that the head, neck and rib cage were in proper order
(c) Because he could collect more archaeological evidence about Tut
(d) All of the options
Answer: (d) All of the options

The new pharaoh promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk, changed his name to Akhenaten, or ‘servant of the Aten,’ and moved the religious capital from the old city of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten, known as Amarna. He further shocked the country by attacking Amun, a major god, smashing his images and closing his temples. “It must have been a horrific time,” said Ray Johnson.

Question. What changes did Akhenaten make to ancient Egypt’s religion?
Answer: Akhenaten promoted the worship of Aten (the sun disk), changed his name to Akhenaten, moved the religious capital to Akhetaten, and attacked Amun by smashing his images and closing his temples.

Question. Who was Ray Johnson?
(a) An archaeologist
(b) Director of the University of Chicago’s research centre
(c) Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities
(d) Forensic Officer
Answer: (b) Director of the University of Chicago’s research centre

Question. Why did Ray Johnson say, “It must have been a horrific time.”?
Answer: Ray Johnson said so because the changes brought about by Akhenaten were radical and violent, especially the attack on the traditional and popular god Amun, which must have created extreme social and religious turmoil.

Short Answer Questions 

Question. Write a short note on Amenhotep IV.
Answer: Amenhotep IV, also known as Akhenaten, was a revolutionary but controversial Pharaoh. He shifted the focus of Egyptian religion from Amun to the worship of Aten. He moved the capital to Amarna and took the radical step of destroying the images and temples of the god Amun, leading to what historians call a 'wacky' period.

Question. What changes in nature were observed during the excavation of Tut’s body?
Answer: As Tut's mummy was removed for the scan, nature seemed to respond with turbulence. Fierce, dusty winds began to blow, and dark-bellied clouds covered the stars, casting a 'casket grey' gloom over the desert sky, which some interpreted as the Pharaoh’s curse.

Question. What made Carter conclude that Tut died sometime in the month of March or April?
Answer: Carter found the first coffin adorned with a shroud containing garlands of willow and olive leaves, wild celery, lotus petals, and cornflowers. Since these plants and flowers bloom in the spring, he concluded that the burial took place in March or April.

Question. When King Tut was being finally laid to rest, nature was at rest too. Explain.
Answer: After the CT scan was completed and Tut's body was returned to his tomb, the turbulent weather subsided. The wind stopped blowing and the desert air grew still, like death itself. Nature seemed to be at peace once the Pharoah was back in his resting place.

Question. What attempt did Tut make to restore the ancient religion in Egypt?
Answer: After the radical rule of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun changed his name from Tutankhaten to signify his devotion to Amun. He oversaw the restoration of the old temples and the traditional ways of worship, bringing back the religious order that had been disrupted.

Long Answer Questions

Question. The lesson ‘Discovering Tut’ allows us to peep into the past or history. For many, history is a dry subject but its study does make us wiser. What do you think? (Constructed Response Question)
Answer: History is much more than just a collection of dates and names; it is a mirror to human evolution and civilisation. Studying history through lessons like ‘Discovering Tut’ makes us wiser by helping us understand the origins of culture, tradition, and belief systems. It provides us with a sense of perspective on how societies rise and fall. Through history, we learn from the successes and failures of our ancestors, which guides our current decisions. For example, understanding the religious shift under Akhenaten and its restoration under Tut gives us insights into the power of belief and social stability. Moreover, history combined with modern science, like archaeology and forensic analysis, turns into a fascinating detective story. It teaches us to value our heritage and preserves the collective memory of mankind, ensuring that we do not lose our roots in the race for the future.

Question. ‘Archaeology has changed substantially in the intervening decades.’ We find that science is helping the cause of culture. Write an article showing that science can help in investigating and preserving history. (Constructed Response Question)
Answer: In the modern era, science has become the greatest ally of archaeology and cultural preservation. In the decades since Howard Carter’s discovery, the field has transitioned from simply seeking treasures to using medical technology and sophisticated digital tools. Science allows us to investigate history without destroying it. For instance, CT scans and X-rays provide three-dimensional views of ancient remains, allowing researchers to study anatomy and causes of death without physically dismantling mummies. Chemical analysis and carbon dating provide precise timelines that were previously based on guesswork. Furthermore, science helps in preservation; special environmental controls and chemical treatments help protect fragile artefacts and murals from decay. Digital archiving ensures that even if physical sites are lost to time or conflict, a permanent record of our culture remains. By combining the curiosity of history with the precision of science, we can uncover the "Saga" of our past with unprecedented accuracy and respect.

Question. Analyse the dynasty of King Tut as discussed in the lesson, ‘Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues’. (Constructed Response Question)
Answer: The dynasty of King Tut, the eighteenth dynasty of Egypt, was one of power, wealth, and eventually, radical change. It reached its zenith under Amenhotep III, Tut’s grandfather, who ruled for forty years during a golden age. However, the dynasty took a "wacky" turn with his son, Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten). He replaced the traditional worship of Amun with the Aten, moved the capital to Amarna, and violently suppressed old religious images. This created a period of great instability. Following a brief and mysterious rule by Smenkhkare, the young Tutankhaten took the throne. His reign was significant for the "restoration" of the old ways. He changed his name to Tutankhamun to honor Amun and reinstated the traditional religious order. His death at a young age marked the end of this powerful family line. Tut’s dynasty reflects the cyclical nature of history—periods of stability followed by radical disruption and eventual restoration, leaving behind a legacy of immense wealth and unanswered mysteries.

Short Answer Questions

Question. Who was Tut? What had happened to him?
Answer: The Pharaoh Tut, was the last heir of the powerful family of pharaohs that ruled Egypt for centuries. He ruled for a period of nine years and then died unexpectedly. People believed that the king died under mysterious circumstances and his death might involve every possibility of murder.

Question. Why did King Tut’s mummy have to undergo CT scan?
Answer: King Tut was a teenager when he died under very mysterious circumstances. Ever since his tomb was discovered in the year 1922, the modern world has speculated about what might have happened to him, with murder being the most extreme possibility. Therefore, he was removed from his tomb after 80 years to undergo a CT scan, in order to acquire some clues into his life and death.

Question. What did the tourists in the burial chamber of King Tut do?
Answer: The tourists from around the world queued up as usual all afternoon into the narrow rock-cut tomb. They lined up to pay their homage to King Tut. They looked keenly at the murals on the walls of the burial chamber. Some also peered at Tut’s gilded face. Some visitors read from guidebooks, whereas others stood silently, thinking about the Pharaoh’s curse which stated that death or misfortune would befall those who disturbed him.

Question. Why did the artefacts in Tut’s tomb cause a sensation at the time of discovery?
Answer: The stunning artefacts of gold discovered in Tut’s tomb, whose eternal brilliance meant to guarantee resurrection, caused a sensation and surprised all present there. They remain the richest royal collection ever found and have become part of the pharaoh’s legend.

Question. What did Carter find in the three nested coffins?
Answer: In the first coffin, he found a shroud adorned with garlands of willow and olive leaves, wild celery, lotus petals and cornflowers. His body was lavished with glittering goods: precious collars, inlaid necklaces and bracelets, rings, amulets, a ceremonial apron, sandals and sheaths for his fingers and toes — all of pure gold. The coffin also contained everyday things for the afterlife, such as board games, a bronze razor, linen undergarments, cases of food and wine.

Question. Why did Carter have to detach Tut’s mummy from the coffin? What did he do?
Answer: When Carter and his men were working on the tomb of King Tut, they found that the ritual resins had hardened and had cemented the mummy of King Tut to the bottom of his solid gold coffin. The mummy could not be taken out. He set the mummy outside in the blazing sun at 149 degrees Fahrenheit but did not serve any purpose.

Question. How did Carter defend his action of cutting the mummy free?
Answer: Carter, in his defence, wrote later that if he hadn’t cut the mummy free, thieves would have circumvented the guards and ripped it apart to remove all the gold. The mummy had been kept with a lot of wealth in the form of ornaments and other riches, all of gold. The funerary treasures would have surely attracted thieves had he not severed the mummy to make it free from the adornments.

Question. How was King Tut’s mummy scanned by the CT scanner?
Answer: A portable CT scanner was taken in a trailer to the sandy area near Tut’s tomb. Tut’s body was carried there from his tomb in a box for scanning. However, the million-dollar portable scanner quit because of sand in a cooler fan. In a short while, a pair of white plastic fans were brought to help in the scanning. The CT machine scanned the mummy from head to toe, creating 1,700 digital X-ray images in cross section. Tut’s head, which was scanned in 0.62 millimetre slices to register its intricate structures, takes on eerie detail in the resulting image.

Question. What did the CT scan of Tut’s mummy reveal?
Answer: The CT scan gave surprising as well as fascinating images of Tut’s body. The image of a grey head took shape from a scattering of pixels and the technician tilted it in every direction. Neck bones appeared quite clearly. Other images revealed a hand, several views of the rib cage, and a transection of the skull.

Question. Carter had to take a drastic decision regarding the mummy. What was it? How did he justify it?
Answer: The hard decision that Carter had to take was to chisel away the hardened resins from under Tut’s body. This could damage the skeleton. The workers had to remove Tut’s head and sever nearly all the joints. Carter’s justification was that if he hadn’t cut the mummy free, thieves would have ripped it apart to get the gold.

Question. “King Tut’s body had been subjected to repeated scrutiny”. Why?
Answer: King Tut was the last Pharoah who ruled Egypt. He died a teenager after ruling for nine years. Mystery shrouded his untimely death. Therefore, since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, Tut’s body had been subjected to repeated scrutiny to appease the speculations that the possibility of death could be murder, and to provide a precise data for accurate forensic reconstruction of the young pharaoh.

Question. Enumerate the adornments on Tut’s body. Why had the adornments been buried along with the body?
Answer: The tomb of the Pharoah consisted of stunning gold objects of great beauty like precious collars, inlaid necklaces, bracelets, rings, amulets, and all other things needed by the King in his afterlife such as board games, linen undergarments, cases of food and drink. Egyptians believed that the king would need these articles in his life after death.

Question. Who were the rulers who preceded King Tut?
Answer: King Amenhotep III, Tut’s grandfather or father, was succeeded by his son Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten or the Servant of Aten, He was succeeded by a mysterious ruler who vanished from the scene after a brief rule. King Tut, still a young boy was the next heir to the throne. He ruled for a period of nine years, until his untimely death as a teenager.

Question. What were the changes that occurred in the viewpoint of archaeologists with the passage of time?
Answer: Initially, the archeaologists focussed on the treasures that were in the tomb and in protecting them from being robbed. Thereafter, the attention was more on the fascinating details of life and intriguing mysteries of death. Moreover, now, they had more sophisticated tools, including medical technology at their disposal.

Question. Who was Amenhotep IV? Why is he described as ‘wacky’?
Answer: Amenhotep IV was the son of Amenhotep III who succeeded the throne after his father. Akhenaten was ‘wacky’ because he moved the religious capital from the old city of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten. It is now known as Amarna. He also attacked Amun, a major god, smashing his images and closing his temples.

Question. How has archaeology undergone a change in the twentieth century?
Answer: The change is in two ways: approach and techniques. Firstly, archaeology now focuses less on treasure and more on the fascinating details of life and interesting mysteries of death. Secondly, it uses more sophisticated tools including medical technology.

Long Answer Questions 

Question. “He was the last of his family line.” What do you learn about Tut’s dynasty from the chapter ‘Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues’?
Answer: Tut’s father or grandfather, Amenhotep III, was a powerful Pharaoh who ruled for almost four decades at the height of the eighteenth dynasty’s golden age. His son and successor, Amenhotep IV promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk. He changed his name to Akhetaten or ‘servant of the Aten’. He moved his religious capital from the old city of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten. He further shocked the country by attacking Amun, a major god, breaking his images and closing his temples. Thus, the ‘wacky’ king started one of the strangest periods in the history of ancient Egypt. After Akhenaten’s death, a mysterious ruler named Smenkhkare appeared briefly and vanished without leaving any sign. Then a very young Tutankhaten took over the throne. He is widely known today as King Tut. The boy king soon changed his name to Tutankhamun, meaning ‘living image of Amun’. He supervised the restoration of the old ways. Tutankhamun ruled for about nine years and then died unexpectedly. The details of his passing away are not known. The modern world has speculated about what happened to him. How he died and how old he was at the time of his death are two questions which remain unanswered even today.

Question. A.R. Williams says, “King Tut is …. in death, as in life, moving regally ahead of his countrymen.” How far do you agree with the assertion and why? (Constructed Response Question)
Answer: Perhaps no other Pharaoh of Egypt has fascinated the public mind so greatly as the boyish King Tutankhamun. Although King Tut died in his teens and ruled for about nine years only, he introduced certain changes during his brief rule. These were significant as they marked the revival of the old ways of the worship of Amun. The unanswered questions about the cause of his death are still present. After his death, his body has been a centre of scientific examination. Howard Carter, the British archaeologist discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922. In 1968, an anatomy professor X-rayed the mummy. The Egyptian Mummy Project began an inventory in late 2003. It has so far recorded 600 and is still counting. The next phase of CT scanning with a portable CT machine began on January 5, 2005. King Tut’s mummy was the first one to undergo a CT scan. Hence, King Tut being regally ahead of his countrymen in death as in life is undoubtedly a valid assertion.

Question. How has Tut’s mummy fascinated scientists and commoners alike over the previous decades?
Answer: King Tutankhamun was the last Pharoah left of his line. His funeral marked the end of a dynasty. He was laid to rest laden with gold as the royals in Tut’s time were extremely wealthy and thought they could take their riches with them. His tomb was discovered by Howard Carter, an English archaeologist in 1922, more than 3000 years after his death. The rich royal collection of jewellery and golden artefacts fascinated Carter. Visitors thronged to the teenage king’s tomb. The particulars of King Tut’s death and its aftermath are not clear. Carter’s investigation revealed a startling fact. The breast-bone and front ribs of Tut were missing. Thereafter, once again on 5th January 2005, a CT scan was done to obtain precise data for an accurate forensic reconstruction of King Tut. It was hoped that it would offer new clues about his life and death. Thus, Tut’s mummy has been the centre of fascination throughout the previous decades.

Question. Who was King Tut? What happened when his mummy was being CT scanned? What did the tourists do?
Answer: King Tut was just a teenager when he died. He was the last heir of a powerful family that ruled Egypt and its empire for centuries. He was laid to rest laden with gold and then forgotten. After several years of research, in 1922, the British archaeologist Howard Carter, discovered his mummy and startling facts about him came to light. Later, on January 5, 2005, when his mummy was removed again to be subject to a CT scan, an angry wind began to blow. Dark clouds appeared in the sky. The tourists gazed at the murals on the walls in his burial chamber. They peered at the gilded face. Some tourists stood silently. They wondered if the Pharaoh’s curse that death or misfortune befall upon those who disturbed him was really true. But except a change in the weather nothing happened.

Question. What problems did Howard Carter face in regard to King Tut’s mummy? What did he do to solve them?
Answer: After years of research, Howard Carter, the British archaeologist, discovered King Tut’s burial chamber and his gold coffin in 1922. When he opened the last coffin, he found that the ritual resins had hardened. It had cemented Tut to the bottom of his solid gold coffin. He tried to loosen it by putting the mummy under 149 degree Fahrenheit scorching sunshine. But nothing happened. Then he reported that the material had to be chiselled away from beneath the limbs and trunk. It had to be done as it was not possible to raise the King’s remains. Carter defended his decision by saying that the thieves would have ripped the mummy apart to remove the gold. So, his men removed the mummy’s head and severed nearly every major joint. Then they reassembled the remains on a layer of sand and put the mummy in a wooden box.

Question. What light does the chapter throw on King Tut’s father or grandfather?
Answer: King Tut’s father or grandfather was a powerful Pharaoh. He ruled Egypt for almost 40 years at the height of the 18th dynasty’s golden age. His son Amenhotep IV succeeded him. He started certain changes. He promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk. He changed his name to Akhenaten, or ‘servant of the Aten’ He also moved the capital from Thebes to Akhetaten. It is now known as Amarna. He shocked the country by breaking the images of Amun, a major god and closing his temples. After Akhenaten’s death, Smenkhkare ruled Egypt briefly. Then a very young Tutankhaten sat on the throne — King Tut as he is widely known today. The boy king changed his name to Tutankhamun, which meant ‘living image of Amun’. He restored the old ways. He ruled for nine years and then died unexpectedly.

Question. Imagine you are Howard Carter. You were fortunate to find King Tut’s tomb intact. Describe what you saw in the burial chamber. Describe King Tut’s coffin and its contents. 
Answer: I have searched for many years and today my search has come to a fruitful end. I have found the tomb of King Tut. The year 1922 has become historic in archaeology. The burial chamber is small, rock-cut and 26 feet underground with murals on the walls. King Tut’s outer coffin shows his features in a gilded and painted face. There are three nested coffins. In the first, I found a shroud adorned with garlands of spring flowers. The innermost coffin contained the body of King Tut, lavished with precious collars, inlaid necklaces and bracelets, rings, amulets, a ceremonial apron, sandals, sheaths for his fingers and toes, all of pure gold, and a painted mask of great beauty. Besides, in the burial chamber, there were articles of everyday needs like board games, a bronze razor, linen undergarments and cases of food and wine.

Question. In 1922 Tut’s tomb was discovered. Much of the treasure buried in the tomb had already been plundered. The materialistic attitude of man does not allow even the dead to rest in peace. Will there be any end to this attitude? Discuss. 
Answer: For a handful of gold, man can go to any extent. Tut’s mummy was buried deep in the desert with a lot of gold and other things believing that the dead Pharaoh would need those things in the afterlife. It was a matter of faith. When Tut’s tomb was discovered, most of the treasure had already been looted. The thieves who did so were driven by the mad force of materialism. Materialistic attitude attaches no importance to beliefs, religious sentiments, social rites and rituals. But when Carter finally succeeded in discovering Tut’s tomb, he found the richest royal collections — all made of solid gold — in the tomb. Even the coffin was made of gold. In order to remove Tut from his coffin, Carter had to cut the body from its joints. So, man doesn’t allow even the dead to rest in peace.