IB PYP Class 3 Reading Comprehension (Age 8) — Egyptian History, 3 Gods & Hieroglyphs — 10-mark ESL Worksheet

Instructions

Read the story about Ancient Egypt carefully. Then, answer the questions that follow in full sentences. Each question is worth 2 marks.

A Trip to Ancient Egypt

Long, long ago, there was a famous land called Egypt. A very long river, the Nile, flowed through this land. The Nile River was like a gift to the people. It gave them water to drink and helped them grow lots of food in the desert.

The rulers of Ancient Egypt were called pharaohs. People thought the pharaohs were very powerful, like kings or queens. They built huge stone buildings called pyramids.

The Egyptians believed in many different gods and goddesses who helped them in their lives. Three of the most famous gods were Ra, the god of the sun, who sailed his boat across the sky each day. Another was Anubis, the god with the head of a jackal, who protected people in the afterlife. There was also the kind goddess Isis, who was a protector and a mother to the pharaohs.

To express their ideas and tell stories, the Egyptians used a special kind of writing. They did not use letters like we do. Instead, they used picture symbols. This amazing way of writing was called hieroglyphs. Each picture could mean a whole word, an idea, or a sound. They carved these hieroglyphs on temple walls to share their stories for thousands of years.

Questions (Total 10 marks)

1. Why was the Nile River important to the ancient Egyptians? (2 marks)
   
   
   
   
2. What was the special name for the rulers of Ancient Egypt? (2 marks)
   
   
   
   
3. Name one Egyptian god from the story and what they were the god of. (2 marks)
   
   
   
   
4. What was the name of the special picture writing used by the Egyptians? (2 marks)
   
   
   
   
5. How did the ancient Egyptians use their special writing to express themselves? (2 marks)
   
   
   
   

Answer Key

1. The Nile River was important because it gave them water for drinking and for growing food.
2. The rulers of Ancient Egypt were called pharaohs.
3. (Accept one of the following or a similar correct answer)
   • Ra was the god of the sun.
   • Anubis was the god who protected people in the afterlife.
   • Isis was a goddess who was a protector and mother.
4. The special picture writing was called hieroglyphs.
5. They used hieroglyphs to express ideas, tell stories, and share their history on temple walls.