TOEFL Reading 13

 

[1] The word ‘mummy’ is thought to derive from the Persian word mummiya which means bitumen, the black material of ancient bodies.  Mummification has occurred all around the world. Body purification began in South American cultures, thousands of years before the Egyptians. The world's oldest mummies were created by small fishing communities known as the Chinchorro people in Northern Chile and Peru. Their mummification techniques indicate a developed and sophisticated culture. The Chinchorro people removed the skin, brain and internal organs of the body, dried the bones and reinforced the mummy with reeds and twigs. The skin was then reapplied with paste and a clay mask covering the face. The mummies were buried in groups according to family. Many mummies were unborn babies or children, so it is considered that it was their mothers who first began the mummification techniques to keep their dead children with them. Mummification was later practiced by the Peruvian Nazca and Chiribaya cultures of the South American desert regions, as well as the Chachapoyas. They are also known as the 'Cloud People' whose mummies were discovered high above the Amazon rain forests.

[2] There is also evidence of mummification dating back to the Inca period as freeze-dried mummies have been discovered in the Andes, surrounded by gold and silver objects, thought to have been religious offerings. The Incas mummified their royalty and considered them to be still living with them as they were paraded during events and considered advisers in difficult times. These mummies were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors who refused to accept the mummies as living beings. They also destroyed the Guanches and Berber mummies of North Africa. Studies of very few of these remaining mummies indicate a link with the mummification practices of ancient Egypt.

[3] In modern society, mummification is generally associated with ancient Egypt. The first interest in mummies started at the beginning of the 19th century when affluent tourists returned from Egypt for ‘mummy unwrapping parties’. Mummies then became popular in works of fiction and Hollywood movies. It is important to remember, however, that mummies are in fact preserved bodies – once living people – who were preserved in the hope of an immortal life.

[4] The process of mummification begins with the brain being removed, along with the organs. The hollow body was dried out with salts and the skin was treated with special oils and resins. The remains were then treated to restore a lifelike appearance and then wrapped in linen material. One famous mummy (Wah) was wrapped in 375 square meters of linen. Once placed in a coffin, a funeral ceremony then took place to ‘reactivate’ the spirit in the mummy and there were chants and prayers for immortality. The mummy was then buried in the ground with supplies of food and drink. Although the rich were buried in special tombs, most mummies were buried in the sand near the River Nile. The hot sand and arid climate naturally preserved the skin, hair, and nails of these mummies.  The bodies of mummies buried in tombs actually decomposed much faster, so a new means of body preservation was developed. Discoveries in the region of Hierakonpolis indicate that mummification in linen dates back to about 3400 BC. However, the new method of mummification began around 2600 BC when the Egyptians began to remove the internal organs to prevent fast decay.  Over the next 3000 years, their embalming and mummification techniques were developed and mastered.

[5] In Europe, some mummies have been found, such as frozen bodies discovered high in the mountain topics, in peat bogs, the Takla Makan desert in China, the Eurasian Steppes and in Greenland, those of which are only 500 years old. Modern scientific techniques such as DNA analysis, CAT-scans, x-rays, electron microscopy and endoscopy prove to be a very safe means of studying ancient remains. They can now be used to provide valuable information regarding lifestyle, profession, relationships, health, disease, diet and even drug use of these ancient people whose remains we have discovered.

[6] During excavations, archaeologists were usually rushing to find treasures of great value and worth. However, the mummified remains of the people who established these great civilizations are in fact the most important legacy of the ancient world and must be remembered and venerated as such.

1 Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 2 about Egyptian mummification?

• Egyptian mummification may have been learned from the ancient mummification practices of the Berber and Guanches cultures.
• Egyptian mummies were also destroyed by the Spanish conquerors.
• There are very few remains of Egyptian mummification practices.
• Because there are very few remains of Berber and Guanches mummies, it’s impossible to know the connection with Egyptian mummification.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

a is the correct answer because the last two lines state that there is a possible link between the mummification practices in Egypt and those in the Berber and Guanches cultures.

b there is no reference to this point in the passage.
c there is no reference to this point in the passage (the word 'few' refers to mummies of the Gunaches and Berber cultures).
d it is not impossible to know the connection simply because there are few Berber and Guanches mummies.

2 According to paragraph 4, why were the mummies buried by the banks of the River Nile better preserved?

• Due to the fact that they were naturally preserved by the heat and dryness.
• Because they were buried in tombs.
• Due to the fact that they were wrapped in linen.
• Because they were preserved with new embalming techniques.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

a is the correct answer because there is evidence to support this statement in paragraph 4:

'The hot sand and arid climate naturally preserved the skin, hair and nails of these mummies'.

b is incorrect because although mummies were sometimes buried in tombs, this does not explain why they were better preserved.
c is incorrect because although mummies were sometimes wrapped in linen, this does not explain why they were better preserved.
d is incorrect because although mummies were embalmed, this does not explain why they were better preserved.

3 According to paragraph 4, all of the following statements are true about the process of mummification, EXCEPT:

• All mummies were wrapped in 375 square meters of linen.
• Once placed in a coffin, there was a ceremony to revive the spirit.
• There were chants and prayers for immortality during the ceremony.
• Food and drink was supplied with the mummy in the burial place.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

a is correct because there it was only ONE particular mummy who was wrapped in 375 square meters of linen:

'One famous mummy (Wah) was wrapped in 375 square meters of linen'.

b, c and d are incorrect because they are all true statements from the passage

4 The word 'decomposed' in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to:

• made up of
• decayed
• created
• damaged

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: b
Your Selection: Not Answered

b is the correct answer because it is closest in meaning to the word 'decomposed'.

a is not the correct answer because it means 'consists of'
c is not the correct answer because it means 'made'
d is not the correct answer because it means 'destroyed'

5 Paragraph 5 supports which of the following statements about mummies discovered in more recent times:

• New scientific methods are as safe and useful as older techniques when investigating preserved bodies.
• New scientific methods give useful information about the identity of people whose bodies were preserved.
• New scientific methods are both safe and useful to give information about many aspects of the person whose body was preserved.
• Only older scientific methods can provide us with information about many aspects of the person whose body was preserved.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: c
Your Selection: Not Answered

c is the correct answer because there is evidence in the passage to support this point in paragraph 5

a there is no reference to this point in the passage
b there is no reference to this point in the passage.
d there is no reference to this point in the passage

6 The word 'remains' in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to:

• corpse
• heritage
• relics
• remnant

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

a is the correct answer because it is closest in meaning to the word 'remains'.

b the word 'heritage' means something that is inherited from previous generations
c the word 'relics' means remaining artefacts or objects.
d the 'remnant' means an old piece.

7 Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the following sentence?

The mummified remains of the people who established these great civilizations are in fact the most important legacy from the ancient world and must be remembered and venerated as such.

• The most essential legacy we have of ancient people is the preserved remains of those great cultures – we should respect them.
• The most essential legacy we have of the ancient world is the people who discovered the ancient remains, and were responsible for the establishment of these great cultures – we should respect them.
• The most essential legacy we have of the ancient world is the preserved remains of these great cultures – we should respect them.
• The most essential legacy we have of the ancient world is the preserved remains of those who were responsible for the establishment of these great cultures – we should respect them.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: d
Your Selection: Not Answered

d is the correct answer because it is closest in meaning to the sample sentence

a is incorrect because it is limited.
b is incorrect because it refers to 'the people who discovered' which changes the meaning of the original sentence.
c is incorrect because it refers to 'the preserved remains' which changes the meaning of the original sentence.

8 According to the passage, what was the goal for archaeologists during excavations?

• Archaeologists were usually working quickly to find something of material value.
• Archaeologists were usually rushing to find treasures of spiritual significance.
• Archaeologists were usually rushing to bring mummies back to Europe and America.
• Archaeologists were usually rushing to gain fame and notoriety for their discoveries.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: a
Your Selection: Not Answered

a is the correct answer because it is inferred in the passage.

b there is no reference to this point in the passage.
c there is no indication that this was 'usually' the case. It was the case only in a few instances.
d there is no reference to this point in the passage.

9 Examine the four █ in the selection below and indicate at which block the following sentence could be inserted into the passage:

Current archaeologists now have a more precise knowledge of how mummification was achieved in Ancient Egypt.

 

█ [A] In Europe, some mummies have been found, such as frozen bodies discovered high in the mountain topics, in peat bogs, the Takla Makan desert in China, the Eurasian Steppes or in Greenland, those of which are only 500 years old. █ [B] Modern scientific techniques such as DNA analysis, CAT-scans, x-rays, electron microscopy and endoscopy prove to very safe means of studying ancient remains. █ [C] They can now be used to provide valuable information regarding lifestyle, profession, relationships, health, disease, diet and even drug use of these ancient people whose remains we have discovered. █ [D] .

• [A]
• [B]
• [C]
• [D]

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 1 point.

Correct Answer: b
Your Selection: Not Answered

b is correct because it is followed by a sentence that supports this statement.

a is not correct because it introduces the sentence that precedes the extra sentence.
c is not correct because it naturally follows sentence b. 'They' refers to scientific techniques in sentence b.
d follows sentence d logically.

10Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.

Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To remove an answer choice, drag it back. To review the passage, click VIEW TEXT.

 

Modern understanding of mummification leads to a greater awareness of the behaviour and beliefs of ancient civilizations.

• A. This is due to better analysis techniques of mummified bodies.
• C. In Ancient Egypt, there was a spiritual ceremony to invoke immortality.
• D. Thanks to better analysis, the first mummies can definitely be dated back to ancient South American cultures.

 

• A. This is due to better analysis techniques of mummified bodies.
• B. Mummification occurred up until recent times.
• C. In Ancient Egypt, there was a spiritual ceremony to invoke immortality.
• D. Thanks to better analysis, the first mummies can definitely be dated back to ancient South American cultures.
• E. The Spanish conquerors were not responsible for the damage and destruction of some mummified bodies.
• F. Modern archaeologists did not always respect the significance of mummified bodies.

ANSWER EXPLANATION

Question is worth: 2 points.

Correct Answer: a,c,d
Your Selection: Not Answered

a, c and d are the correct answers because there is evidence in the passage supporting each point.

a. 'Modern scientific techniques such as DNA analysis, CAT-scans, x-rays, electron microsocopy and endocscopy prove to very safe means of studying ancient remains. They can now be used to provide valuable information regarding lifestyle, profession, relationships, health, disease, diet and even drug use of these ancient people whose remains we have discovered'.

c. 'Once placed in a coffin, a funeral ceremony then took place to ‘reactivate’ the spirit in the mummy and there were chants and prayers for immortality'.


d. 'There is also evidence of mummification dating back to the Inca period as freeze-dried mummies have been discovered in the Andes, surrounded by gold and silver objects, thought to have been religious offerings'.

B is incorrect as the last mummification practices occurred until 500 years ago, according to the text.
E is incorrect as the text states the opposite:
They also destroyed the Guanches and Berber mummies of North Africa.
F is not correct as there is no reference to a lack of respect in the passage.