ISAT Practice 8: Marks the Spot

Based on the text, why did Khufu have to be buried in the west?

• To be reborn with the sun.

• Because of the soil.

• To be happier in the afterlife.

Read the paragraph from the text.

While his own tomb complex was being built, Khufu planned for the burials of his family and courtiers. Three small pyramids were erected to the east of his pyramid, perhaps for his mother and two of his wives. Two huge cemeteries were laid out like miniature towns to the east and west of Khufu's pyramid. Arranged in rows along narrow streets, the tombs were houses for the dead. Members of Khufu's immediate family were given tombs in the eastern cemetery. The western cemetery was mostly for courtiers.

What does the information in this paragraph reveal about the author's point of view? Select three options.

• The author believes that Khufu wanted his subjects to admire and respect him.

• The author believes that Khufu was thorough in his plans for his tomb complex.

• The author believes that Khufu had a large family that was expensive to care for.

• The author believes that Khufu was caring and thoughtful of his family and followers.

• The author believes that Khufu wanted to ensure his family was cared for after death

How does Khufu choosing his spot for his tomb affect his afterlife?

• The spot chosen was above the floodplain so the body would not be damaged. His body would rise and set with the sun because of the placement.

• Khufu's tomb was in Memphis. Memphis was seen as the "meeting point" for most trade routes. Khufu putting himself in Memphis made him rejoice knowing that many people would see the tomb.

• Khufu choosing this point had the best sunlight, so Khufu's pyramid could shine to the temples and grant him a long afterllife.

• Khufu needed a lot of room so that his family members and council members could be placed next to himself.

What evidence best supports your answer to the previous question?

• For the Egyptians, the desert was the perfect cemetery, as it lay beyond the reaches of the Nile's floodwater.

• As the meeting point for many trade routes. Memphis was filled with government offices.

• The pyramid also needed to be near Heliopolis.

• The pyramid had to be near the city of Memphis, Egypt's capital at the time and the center of his government.

Which statement best summarizes the central idea of the text?

• Khufu was a selfish king who focused only on himself.

• Khufu was a devoted king who was loyal to his people.

• Khufu had many essential duties to fulfill as king before his death.

• Khufu took many factors into consideration when planning for his burial place.

Which sentence from the text best supports your answer in part A?

• Khufu had plans to build an enormous complex, one that would include smaller pyramids for his mother and his wives, and many tombs for the rest of his family and the members of his court.

• Khufu chose Giza because it had a large, flat plateau that was high above the floodplain and because there was a lot of good-quality building material in the area.

• Khufu ordered the construction of a great many tombs in these two cemeteries.

• After Khufu died, the cemetery remained in use for hundreds of years.

Based on the text, why did the family's tomb need to be in the east cemetery?

• They were not royalty.

• Khufu wanted theirs to be there.

• Because of religion.

What evidence or information supports your answer to the previous question?

• Khufu had plans to build an enormous complex, one that would include smaller pyramids for his mother and wives.

• Khufu's immediate family were given tombs in the eastern cemetery.

• Khufu had to follow religious tradition and choose a site that lay on the west side of the Nile river.

Read the sentence from the text.

“Two huge cemeteries were laid out like miniature towns to the east and west of Khufu's pyramid.”

Which statement best describes what the phrase “laid out like miniature towns” adds to the meaning of the text?

• It helps the reader understand that cemeteries were the hearts of Egyptian cities.

• It helps the reader understand geographically where the cemeteries were located.

• It helps the reader understand that cemeteries were planned out and organized.

• It helps the reader understand that cemeteries had the same businesses that towns had.

What evidence or information best supports that the pyramids needed to be close to the Nile and the cities of Heliopolis and Memphis? Choose two answers.

• The pyramid needed to be near Heliopolis, located on the east bank of the nile.

• Khufu had plans to build an enormous complex, one that would include smaller pyramids.

• The pyramid had to be near the city of Memphis, Egypt's capital.

• Tombs in these cemeteries are solid rectangles.