Part 3. Read the following passage and choose the correct answer. ( 10 points)
Without the Nile River, the great civilization of ancient Egypt may never have existed. Until about nine thousand years ago, all of Egypt was under water. When the climate began to turn dry, tribes moved from North Africa to land near the river. Small villages appeared along the banks of the Nile. Each village had a chief who would battle other villages. Around 3300 BCE, these tribes came together to form the civilization of ancient Egypt.
One reason ancient Egypt was built around the Nile River was because its yearly flood made farming possible. The flood was so important that religious leaders would perform ceremonies that were believed to cause the river to rise and flood. The flood made the land very good for growing grains such as wheat and barley. Farmers began to plant these crops in November, right after the flood. Because of the Nile, they were usually able to grow a lot of crops. If the grain was not used, it would be stored for later use. Historians believe this is one reason that ancient Egypt became a powerful and wealthy nation.
The Nile also served as an important means of transportation. Ancient Egypt did not have the wheel, so there were no wagons or carts back then. However, ancient Egyptians learned to build boats so that when the Nile flooded they could use the river as a main road throughout Egypt. It is said that without the Nile, there would be no pyramids. This is because historians think that the huge stones were carried on the river by boat. This would explain why the pyramids sit close to the river on its west bank.
66. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Ancient Egyptian civilization
B. The formation of ancient Egypt
C. The importance of the Nile River in ancient Egypt
D. The importance of farming in ancient Egyptian civilization
67. According to the passage, when did people begin to move to the Nile?
A. Nine thousand years ago B. After the climate became dry
C. When the river began to flood D. After the first crops began to grow
68. Which of the following facts about ancient Egyptians is NOT mentioned?
A. They were tribes led by chiefs. B. They lived along the Nile River.
C. They moved from North Africa. D. They first arrived on boats.
69. Why does the author mention religious leaders?
A. To explain why the Nile flooded every year
B. To stress the importance of the Nile’s floods
C. To suggest that ancient Europe was a religious society
D. To note the role they played in ancient Egyptian society
70. According to the passage, how did the Nile’s floods affect farming along the river?
A. They made the land good for growing crops.
B. They caused the crops to grow earlier in the year.
C. They allowed farmers to plant crops every few years.
D. They drowned all the crops, except for wheat and barley.
71. In the second paragraph, the word they refers to
A. crops B. farmers C. historians D. religious leaders
72. In the second paragraph, the word stored is closest in meaning to .
A. planted B. carried C. burned D. saved
73. According to the passage, why were there no carts or wagons in ancient Egypt?
A. They could not carry large stones. B. There were no horses to pull them.
C. Ancient Egyptians did not need them. D. There were no wheels in ancient Egypt
74. Why did ancient Egyptians learn to build boats?
A. There were no roads through ancient Egypt.
B. They wanted to build their pyramids far away.
C. Boats were easier to make than carts and wagons.
D. They needed boats to transport things on the river.
75. What does the author imply about the pyramids sitting close to the Nile?
A. The pyramids’ stones were used to make Egypt’s main roads.
B. Historians think it is proof that the stones were carried on the Nile.
C. The pyramids’ stones were too big for carts and wagons to carry.
D. Historians think there were also pyramids far away from the Nile.
