Passage 1: Pyramids at Giza
1 On the outskirts of the bustling city of Cairo, Egypt, close to the Nile River, lie three huge pyramids in the desert. The Great Pyramid, the largest of the three, is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and is the only one still standing. The pyramids were built in the Fourth Dynasty of Egyptian rule (roughly 2500 B.C.E.), about 4,500 years ago.
2 The pyramids are called Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The names are based on the kings for whom the pyramids were built. The pyramids were built as royal burial chambers and were surrounded by funeral temples and other burial sites. They had passageways that led to interior chambers. All of the treasures buried inside the pyramids were stolen long ago.
3 The oldest and largest pyramid is Khufu. It is also called the Great Pyramid. The length of each side of the base is 755 feet, and it was originally 481 feet tall. The middle pyramid was built for Khafre and was slightly smaller than the first. The third, for Menkaure, was about half as big as the first.
A view of the Egyptian desert from space. The pyramids appear as three squares of different sizes. Each square is divided into four triangles. Each triangle is one side of the pyramid.
NASA Peter Horree/Alamy Stock Photo
This image was taken in July 2012 from the International Space Station. Three pyramids are clearly visible near the center of the image.
4 The pyramids are not as big now as they were originally. All had limestone outer coverings that are mostly gone now. This has shaved several feet off the height. But they are still massive. It is estimated that the stones used to construct Khufu weigh over 5 million tons.
5 Given their size and durability, the pyramids must have been extremely challenging to build. They are true engineering marvels; scientists of today are unsure as to how exactly they were built. Scientists have speculated that the Egyptians used a series of ramps to bring the heavy stones higher and higher as the pyramids were constructed. What they do know is that the builders were very skilled and that at least some of them lived on a nearby site. Archaeologists have found remnants to show that the community was rich in resources and had a centralized organizing authority.
6 Every year, many tourists visit the pyramids to experience their grandeur in person and learn about ancient Egyptian civilization. Even though the interiors are not accessible, the pyramids are still quite a sight to behold!
“Pyramids at Giza” written for educational purposes.
Passage 2: Construction of the Great Pyramid
7 Scientists have long been in awe of the massive pyramids in Giza, Egypt, and the amount of effort it must have taken to build them. The giant stone blocks fit together nearly perfectly. In addition, the pyramids are aligned almost exactly to the cardinal points of north, south, east, and west. How could an ancient civilization have been capable of such advanced building techniques? This has been puzzling scientists for decades.
8 It may be that the ancient Egyptians used the fall equinox to position the structures. On that day, the length of day and night are almost the same. Looking at a shadow of a rod on the day of the equinox gives an almost perfect east–west line. Methods using the sun and stars also may have been used. Unfortunately, the Egyptians did not leave any clues as to how they determined the alignment to cardinal points with such accuracy.
9 As to the building blocks themselves, up until recently, it was thought that the cumbersome stone blocks were carved from natural limestone. They were then moved by a tremendous amount of physical labor and carefully put into place. Some scientists were not in agreement with this theory.
10 A separate theory stated that the stones were made of an early form of concrete and then cast, or formed. Workers would have mixed limestone, clay, lime, and water and then poured the mixture into a mold.
11 Scientist Michel Barsoum, Ph.D., a materials expert, was brought in to analyze the blocks, something he thought would be a relatively simple task. By analyzing the chemistry of the blocks—a project that took about five years—he and his team were able to determine that the blocks were not made of natural limestone. The team was both shocked and amazed. Ancient Egyptians had created a material so close to natural limestone that it fooled everyone for 4,500 years.
12 Dr. Barsoum points out several other reasons why it is likely the stones were cast. Despite the idea that the stones were chiseled, there have been no chisels or other implements found as archaeological evidence. This seems strange. Finally, the stones fit together too perfectly to have been chiseled by hand.
13 Some mysteries about the pyramids’ construction still remain. Even with stones cast out of concrete, how would workers have been able to place them? Cast stones are no lighter than natural limestone.
14 The pyramids are masterful, and Barsoum wonders if the same construction techniques could be used today. If the ancient Egyptians could manufacture the blocks, and the blocks have proved so sturdy, perhaps they should be used as a modern building material. The raw materials are found all over the world and could be a cost-efficient solution to building problems.
“Construction of the Great Pyramid” written for educational purposes.
Now answer the questions. Base your answers on the passages “Pyramids at Giza” and “Construction of the Great Pyramid.”
Read this sentence from Passage 1.
“Given their size and durability, the pyramids must have been extremely challenging to build.” (paragraph 5)
Which sentence from Passage 2 shows the same idea?
A. "As to the building blocks themselves, up until recently, it was thought that the cumbersome stone blocks were carved from natural limestone." (paragraph 9)
B. "They were then moved by a tremendous amount of physical labor and carefully put into place." (paragraph 9)
C. "Finally, the stones fit together too perfectly to have been chiseled by hand." (paragraph 12)
D. "Cast stones are no lighter than natural limestone." (paragraph 13)
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The correct answer is B. "They were then moved by a tremendous amount of physical labor and carefully put into place." (paragraph 9).
This sentence reflects the idea that building the pyramids was an extremely challenging task, highlighting the significant physical effort that went into moving the large stone blocks.
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