Cleopatra Finds her Voice

What does Cleopatra find out about herself after she learns to speak Egyptian?

• Speaking Egyptian helps her understand her religion better.

• She no longer thinks her father is a good king.

• Her family’s old language no longer sounds right.

• She realizes she has a love for learning.

Part B: Choose two details from the story that support the answer to Part A.

• She also learned Hebrew, Aramaic, Persian, Latin, and some African dialects.

• They sang and chanted and threw flowers.

• But it bothered Cleopatra that she could not understand what they said.

• Ever since, all of the rulers of Egypt had spoken Greek.

• She loved learning and excelled in math and science, too.

Why doesn’t Cleopatra’s father speak Egyptian?

• Rulers of Egypt had spoken Greek for 250 years.

• Alexander the Great had banned the teaching of Egyptian.

• The king is more interested in playing the flute than learning a new language.

• Cleopatra’s father and the Greek general Ptolemy had agreed not to speak Egyptian.

Which sentence best explains why Cleopatra wants to learn to speak Egyptian?

• She hopes it will help her with her studies of math and science.

• She sees the love the people show for her father and for her.

• Her father explains the history of her family’s language.

• She believes that as a ruler of Egypt, she should know Egyptian.

Which words best describe Cleopatra?

• frightened and weak

• spoiled and happy

• thoughtful and caring

• silly and careless

Which sentence from the story supports the answer to Part A?

• As the royal barge sailed, people crowded the banks, hoping to see the princess and her father.

• She believed that a ruler should know her people.

• She loved learning and excelled in math and science, too.

• Cleopatra is remembered as a brilliant queen.

Read the sentences from paragraph 6 of the story.

But her father was the ruler of Egypt! Why didn't he and his family speak the native language?

What does native mean in this context?

• Foreign

• difficult

• local

• ancient

List two character traits of Cleopatra:

List two actions that support these character traits:

characters are the ______ or animals in a story.