This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to Reading Passage 2 titled ‘The Step Pyramid of Djoser’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who face major issues finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer quite easily. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Test 1: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2: Questions 14-26

The headline of the passage: The Step Pyramid of Djoser

Questions 14-20: List of headings:

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C, and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph that will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

Tips to answer this question: Don’t read the list of headings first. Have a quick look at the questions, go straight to the first question and start reading the paragraph associated with it. Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly, and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question no. 14: Paragraph A

The answer to this question can be found in lines 4-7 of paragraph A. Here, the writer of the text says, “ . .. .. . The evolution of the pyramid form has been written and argued about for centuries. However, there is no question that, as far as Egypt is concerned, it began with one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect: the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara.”   

Here, The evolution of the pyramid form has been written and argued about for centuries = other less definite facts,

there is no question that = a single certainty,

So, the answer is: iv (A single certainty among other less definite facts)

Question no. 15: Paragraph B

In paragraph B, the writer says in lines 2-7, “ . .. .. Prior to Djoser’s reign, tombs were rectangular monuments made of dried clay brick, which covered underground passages where the deceased person was buried. For reasons which remain unclear, Djoser’s main official, whose name was Imhotep, conceived of building a taller, more impressive tomb for his king by stacking stone slabs on top of one another, progressively making them smaller, to form the shape now known as the Step Pyramid. .. .. .” 

Here, covered underground passages where the deceased person was buried = burial structures,

conceived of building a taller, more impressive tomb = An idea for changing the design of burial structures,

So, the answer is: vii (An idea for changing the design of burial structures)

Question no. 16: Paragraph C

In lines 6-7 of Paragraph C, the author of the text says, “ . . .. . The weight of the enormous mass was a challenge for the builders, . .. … ..”

Here, a challenge = a difficult task, for the builders = for those involved,

So, the answer is: ii (A difficult task for those involved)

Question no. 17: Paragraph D

The first few lines explain the overview of the external buildings and areas of the Step Pyramid, “When finally completed, the Step Pyramid rose 62 meters high and was the tallest structure of its time. The complex in which it was built was the size of a city in ancient Egypt and included a temple, courtyards, shrines, and living quarters for the priests. It covered a region of 16 hectares and was surrounded by a wall 10.5 meters high. . .. ..”

So, the answer is: v (An overview of the external buildings and areas)

Question no. 18: Paragraph E

Again, the first few lines of Paragraph E give us the answer to this question. Take a look at lines 1-6 where the author writes, “The burial chamber of the tomb, where the king’s body was laid to rest, was dug beneath the base of the pyramid, surrounded by a vast maze of long tunnels that had rooms off them to discourage robbers. One of the most mysterious discoveries found inside the pyramid was a large number of stone vessels. Over 40,000 of these vessels, of various forms and shapes, were discovered in storerooms off the pyramid’s underground passages. . .. .. . . .”

Here, lines 1-3 describe the areas within the pyramid, and lines 3-6 explain the artefacts found there.

So, the answer is: i (The areas and artefacts within the pyramid itself)

Question no. 19: Paragraph F

Lines 2-6 of Paragraph F describe the answer for us. Here, the writer says, “ . . .. . Djoser’s grave goods, and even the body, were stolen at some point in the past and all archaeologists found were a small number of his valuables overlooked by the thieves. There was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex, however, to astonish and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it.”

Here, all archaeologists found were a small number of his valuables overlooked by the thieves = the few remains,

to astonish and amaze the archaeologists = an incredible experience,

So, the answer is: viii (An incredible experience despite the few remains)

Question no. 20: Paragraph G

In paragraph G, have a close look at the final lines, where the writer says, “ . . .. . The Step Pyramid was a revolutionary advance in architecture and became the archetype which all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow.”

Here, became the archetype which all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow = the design of the Step Pyramid of Djoser was copied by others,

So, the answer is: vi (A pyramid design that others copied)

Questions 21-24: Completing notes

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete different notes with ONE WORD ONLY from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should not be surprised if the sequence is not maintained. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Title of the notes: The Step Pyramid of Djoser

Question no. 21: The complex that includes the Step Pyramid and its surroundings is considered to be as big as an Egyptian _________of the past.  

Keywords for the question: complex, Step Pyramid, surroundings, considered to be, as big as, Egyptian, of the past,

In Paragraph D, lines 2-3 say, “ . .. . . The complex in which it was built was the size of a city in ancient Egypt .. . .. .. ..”  

Here, ancient = past, size = big,

So, the answer is: city

Question no. 22: The area outside the pyramid included accommodation that was occupied by _________ , along with many other buildings and features.  

Keywords for the question: area, outside the pyramid, accommodation, occupied by, many other buildings and features,  

Lines 3-4 of Paragraph D say, “ . . .. and included a temple, courtyards, shrines, and living quarters for the priests. .. .”

Here, a temple, courtyards, shrines = many other buildings and features,

living quarters for = accommodation that was occupied by,

So, the answer is: priests  

Question no. 23: A wall ran around the outside of the complex and a number of false entrances were built into this. In addition, a long ________ encircled the wall.   

Keywords for the question: wall, ran around, outside, complex, a number of false entrances, built into this, in addition, long, encircled, wall,   

Lines 4-7 of Paragraph D say, “ .. .. .. It covered a region of 16 hectares and was surrounded by a wall 10.5 meters high. The wall had 13 false doors cut into it with only one true entrance cut into the south-east corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 meters long and 40 meters wide. … .. .”

Here, false doors = false entrances, ringed = encircled,

So, the answer is: trench  

Question no. 24: As a result, any visitors who had not been invited were cleverly prevented from entering the pyramid grounds unless they knew the ________ of the real entrance.    

Keywords for the question: as a result, any visitors, not been invited, cleverly, prevented from entering, pyramid grounds, unless, knew, real entrance,   

Lines 7-9 of Paragraph D says, “ . . .. The false doors and the trench were incorporated into the complex to discourage unwanted visitors. If someone wished to enter, he or she would have needed to know in advance how to find the location of the true opening in the wall. .. .”

Here, to discourage unwanted visitors = any visitors . .. . .. . were cleverly prevented to entering, true opening = real entrance,

So, the answer is: location

Questions 25-26: Choosing TWO options from given list

[In this kind of question candidates have to choose two or three answers for each question from five or six options. The answers will not follow any sequential order as they are randomly spread in the text, so this question will be time-consuming. Skimming will come in handy and previous reading of the text can come in use. Therefore, candidates should do other questions first before answering this question.]

Questions 25-26: Which TWO of the following points does the writer make about King Djoser?

Keywords for the questions: TWO, about King Djoser,

First, we find some points made about King Djoser’s reign in Paragraph B. In lines 7-9, the writer of the text says, “ . . .. ..  Djoser is thought to have reigned for 19 years, but some historians and scholars attribute a much longer time for his rule, owing to the number and size of the monuments he built.”

This means there is disagreement concerning the length of King Djoser’s reign.

Then, in Paragraph F lines 2-4 say, “ . . .. Djoser’s grave goods, and even his body, were stolen at some point in the past and all archaeologists found were a small number of his valuables overlooked by the thieves. .. .. .”

This means a few of King Djoser’s possessions were still in his tomb when archaeologists found it.

So, the answers are: (in any order)

B (There is disagreement concerning the length of his reign.)

D (A few of his possessions were still in his tomb when archaeologists found it.)

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