School Days in Egypt

29: What do paragraphs 5 through 7 show about the author’s purpose for writing the article?

A. The author wants to convince readers that school was the only way to advance in Ancient Egypt.

B. The author wants to describe to readers what school was like for students in Ancient Egypt.

C. The author wants to explain to readers why students had to write on limestone in Ancient Egypt.

D. The author wants to entertain readers with interesting stories about life in Ancient Egypt.

• A

• B

• C

• D

30: How does the author develop ideas in paragraph 6?

A. by explaining why Ancient Egyptian brushes had to be made out of reed plants

B. by describing the process of making Ancient Egyptian ink from beginning to end

C. by presenting the problem that Ancient Egyptian ink came only in red and black and offering a solution

D. by comparing and contrasting Ancient Egyptian writing tools to art tools that are familiar to modern readers

• A

• B

• C

• D

31: What does the information in paragraph 8 illustrate about becoming a scribe?

A. It can lead to a successful future.

B. It gives the opportunity to write on papyrus paper.

C. It requires memorization of hundreds of signs.

D. It means leaving home at a young age to attend school.

• A

• B

• C

• D

32: Which quotation best expresses a central idea of the article?

A. “Scribes were very important people in Ancient Egypt because they were almost the only ones who could read and write.” (paragraph 2)

B. “Although records tell us that there were a few female scribes, most were men.” (paragraph 2)

C. “Scribal students used writing tools somewhat like the parts of a water color set you might have.” (paragraph 6)

D. “They wrote letters home and sent bills for work they’d done.” (paragraph 9)

• A

• B

• C

• D

33: Which quotation from the article is best supported by the photograph?

A. “This was a kind of shorthand script used for everyday writing.” (paragraph 4)

B. “Students memorized the hieroglyphic signs and practiced writing them on pieces of stone, pottery, or wood.” (paragraph 5)

C. “They wrote poetry and stories and put down words of wisdom and advice for their children.” (paragraph 9)

D. “Parents were happy to pay the high price to send a child to scribal school.” (paragraph 10)

• A

• B

• C

• D

34: In the father’s letter, the phrase “Mingling with the crocodiles” suggests

A. the low pay of some types of work

B. the foolishness of avoiding work

C. the presence of danger in other jobs

D. the need to try hard in any job

• A

• B

• C

• D

35: Which sentence would be most important to include in a summary of the article?

A. Egyptians used hieratic for everyday writing.

B. Students made ink from red and black disks.

C. Scribes wrote important things on papyrus.

D. Children studied for years to become scribes.

• A

• B

• C

• D