The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers: IELTS Reading Practice Test With Answers

The topic “The Step Pyramid of Djoser” is a common passage in the IELTS Reading test. The passage highlights the significance of Egypt’s Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first monumental stone structure built by King Djoser and architect Imhotep. It discusses the pyramid’s innovative design, construction challenges, and protective features like false doors and a maze-like burial chamber. Despite these efforts, the tomb was eventually looted, though it remains an architectural marvel.

This passage can aid IELTS Reading preparation by honing skills like summarising detailed information, identifying main ideas and supporting details, and understanding the structure of complex texts. It also offers complex sentence structures and vocabulary that could improve your comprehension skills, which is crucial for high-band performance.

Check out the Step Pyramid of Djoser reading answers with explanations. The references given for each answer will help you locate the answers within the passage. 

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Passage 

In the IELTS Reading test, you will spend 60 minutes on 3 passages, each with increasing difficulty. You will deal with different question types, including matching headings, notes completion and matching features. 

It’s important to manage your time effectively to ensure you read each passage thoroughly and answer all questions accurately within the given time frame.

Check out the IELTS syllabus before beginning your IELTS exam preparation!

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Passage

You should spend approximately 20 minutes answering Questions 1 – 13 based on the Reading Passage below. This approach can help manage time effectively during a reading comprehension activity or exam.

Paragraph 1

The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for people in the present day. These grand, impressive tributes to the memory of the Egyptian kings have become linked with the country even though other cultures, such as the Chinese and Mayan, also built pyramids. 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.

Paragraph 2

Djoser was the first king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt and the first to build in stone. 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. 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.

Paragraph 3

 The Step Pyramid has been thoroughly examined and investigated over the last century, and it is now known that the building process went through many different stages. Historian Marc Van de Mieroop comments on this, writing, ‘Much experimentation was involved, which is especially clear in the construction of the pyramid in the centre of the complex. It had several plans … before it became the first Step Pyramid in history, piling six levels on top of one another …The weight of the enormous mass was a challenge for the builders, who placed the stones at an inward incline in order to prevent the monument from breaking up.’

Paragraph 4

When finally completed, the Step Pyramid rose 62 metres 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 metres high. The wall had 13 false doors cut into it, with only one true entrance cut into the southeast corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 metres long and 40 metres wide. 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. Djoser was so proud of his accomplishment that he broke the tradition of having only his own name on the monument and had Imhotep’s name carved on it as well.

Paragraph 5 

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. They are inscribed with the names of rulers from the First and Second Dynasties of Egypt and made from different kinds of stone. There is no agreement among scholars and archaeologists on why the vessels were placed in the tomb of Djoser or what they were supposed to represent. The archaeologist Jean-Philippe Lauer, who excavated most of the pyramid and complex, believes they were originally stored and then given a ‘proper burial’ by Djoser in his pyramid to honour his predecessors. There are other historians, however, who claim the vessels were dumped into the shafts as yet another attempt to prevent grave robbers from getting to the king’s burial chamber.

Paragraph 6

Unfortunately, all of the precautions and intricate design of the underground network did not prevent ancient robbers from finding a way in. 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. There was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex, however, to astonish and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it.

Paragraph 7

Egyptologist Miroslav Verner writes, ‘Few monuments hold a place in human history as significant as that of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara … It can be said without exaggeration that this pyramid complex constitutes a milestone in the evolution of monumental stone architecture in Egypt and in the world as a whole.’ The Step Pyramid was a revolutionary advance in architecture and became the archetype that all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow.

Also Read: IELTS Reading Tips & Tricks 2024: Techniques for Band 9

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Questions and Answers

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The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Questions 1-7

The Step of Pyramid Djoser Reading Passage has seven paragraphs: A-G

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-ix, for questions 1-7 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i. The areas and artefacts within the pyramid itself

ii. A difficult task for those involved

iii. A king who saved his people

iv. A single certainty among other less definite facts

v.  An overview of the external buildings and areas

vi. A pyramid design that others copied

vii. An idea for changing the design of burial structures

viii. An incredible experience despite the few remains

ix. The answers to some unexpected questions

1. Paragraph 1

2. Paragraph 2

3. Paragraph 3

4. Paragraph 4

5. Paragraph 5

6. Paragraph 6

7. Paragraph 7

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The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers With Explanations 1-7

Type of question: Matching Headings

In this question type, you will be asked to choose the correct heading for each paragraph from a list of headings provided. This type of question assesses your ability to understand the main idea or theme of each paragraph.

How to best answer: 

• Familiarise yourself with the list of headings before reading the paragraphs. This helps you know what to look for.
• Identify the main idea or theme of each paragraph by looking for topic sentences or recurring themes.
• Find keywords or phrases that are similar to those in the headings. This can help you make connections.
• Eliminate incorrect options that don’t match any paragraphs to narrow down your choices.
• Skim and Scan each paragraph efficiently to get a context about the content.
  

1. iv – A single certainty among other less definite facts

Reference: 

From Paragraph 1: “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.”

Explanation: The given reading passage, “The Step Pyramid Of Djoser”, explains the evolution of the pyramids. According to the passage, the history of pyramids originated from the ancient king Djoser. Although there are numerous debates among historians and archaeologists regarding the structure of pyramids, the only thing they agree upon is the fact that the pyramids began with the reign of Djoser. Hence, the information given in paragraph 1 matches with the title “A single certainty, among other less definite facts. “

2. vii – An idea for changing the design of burial structures

Reference: 

From paragraph 2: “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.”

Explanation: 

The second paragraph explains the evolution of the tomb structures in ancient Egypt. According to the above-given lines, the earlier forms of the tombs were rectangular. They were also made out of clay. Imhotep, Djoser’s main architect, redesigned it using stones. He altered the previous shape of the tomb as well. So, the title “An idea for changing the design of burial structures” matches paragraph 2. 

3. ii – A difficult task for those involved

Reference: 

From paragraph 3: “The weight of the enormous mass was a challenge for the builders, who placed the stones at an inward incline in order to prevent the monument breaking up.”

Explanation: 

According to the passage, the builders of Djoser’s first pyramid faced difficulty managing the weight of the huge stone bricks. They tried to incline the shape inwards to prevent it from falling apart. Since paragraph 3 mentions the difficult task, the title “A difficult task for those involved” matches with it.

4. v – An overview of the external buildings and areas

Reference: 

From paragraph 4: “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. “

Explanation: 

According to the passage, the pyramid was built in a huge complex, which made other buildings such as temples, courtyards, shrines and priests’ living quarters. Paragraph 4 also describes the area where the pyramid was built. The land encompassed an area of 16 hectares and was surrounded by a huge wall. So, the given paragraph accurately matches the title “An Overview of the External Buildings and Areas. “

5. i –  The areas and artefacts within the pyramid itself

Reference: 

From Paragraph 5: “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.”

Explanation: 

According to the above-mentioned lines, the area inside the pyramid consisted of numerous long tunnels to prevent the robbers. The tomb also had artefacts, including stone vessels. As per the information given, paragraph 5 matches the title, “The areas and artefacts within the pyramid itself.”

6. viii – An incredible experience despite the few remains

Reference: 

From paragraph 6: “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. There was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex, however, to astonish and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it.”

Explanation: 

According to the given paragraph, the thieves stole almost all of the expensive goods in front of the king’s tomb. However, some ancient pieces were still left within the pyramid and its complex. Excavating these was an incredible experience for the archaeologists. So, the title “An incredible experience despite the few remains” matches paragraph 6. 

7. vi –  A pyramid design that others copied

Reference: 

From paragraph 7: “The Step Pyramid was a revolutionary advance in architecture and became the archetype which all the other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow.”

Explanation: 

The passage’s final paragraph explains the significance of the step pyramid in the history of monumental architecture. It also mentions that the step pyramid became a model for all the future pyramids made within the Egyptian civilisation. Hence, the title “A pyramid design that others copied” aligns with paragraph 7.

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The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Questions 8-11

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers to questions 8-11 on your answer sheet.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser

The complex that includes the Step Pyramid and its surroundings is considered to be as big as an Egyptian 8 __________ of the past. The area outside the pyramid included accommodation that was occupied by 9 __________, along with many other buildings and features.

A wall ran around the outside of the complex, and a number of false entrances were built into it. In addition, a long 10 __________  encircled the wall. As a result, any visitors who had not been invited were cleverly prevented from entering the pyramid grounds unless they knew the 11 __________ of the real entrance.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers With Explanations 8-11

Type of question: Notes completion

Under this task, you will be required to fill in missing information within a given text, often in the form of words, phrases, or sentences. These questions are designed to test your comprehension, attention to detail, and ability to infer meaning from context.

How to best answer: 

• Read the passage carefully to understand the context and main ideas.
• Identify the type of information missing, such as words, phrases, or sentences.
• Look for contextual clues or keywords surrounding the missing information.
• Use logical reasoning and inference to fill in the missing parts.
• Ensure that the completed notes are concise and grammatically correct.
• Verify and finalise your answers. 

8. City 

Reference: 

From paragraph 4: “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 metres high. “

Explanation: 

According to the passage, the step pyramid was built within a huge complex. The area of the complex was 16 hectares. It includes other buildings as well. As per the information, the land was about the size of a city in ancient Egypt. Hence, “city” is the correct answer.

9. Priests 

Reference: 

From paragraph 4: “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.” 

Explanation: 

The area outside the step pyramid consisted of several other buildings, including a temple, courtyards and shrines. In addition, it also had the living quarters for priests. Hence, “priests” is the correct answer.

10. Trench 

Reference: 

From paragraph 4:  “The wall had 13 false doors cut into it with only one true entrance cut into the southeast corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 metres long and 40 metres wide.”

Explanation: 

The entire complex where the pyramid was situated was covered by a huge wall. Moreover, a huge trench was also built around the wall to prevent robbers and any other unwanted visitors. Hence, “trench” is the correct answer.

11. Location

Reference: 

From paragraph 4: “The wall had 13 false doors cut into it with only one true entrance cut into the southeast corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 metres long and 40 metres wide. 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.”

Explanation: 

As the paragraph above explains, the wall around the complex had 13 false entrances. This was to distract the outsiders. If a person intends to enter the courtyard, he has to find the extant location of the true door. Hence, “location” is the correct answer.

Read more about A Guide on Most Common English Words Used in Daily Life!

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Questions 12-13

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters for questions 12 and 13 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following points does the writer make about King Djoser?

A.  Initially, he had to be persuaded to build in stone rather than clay.

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

C.  He failed to appreciate Imhotep’s part in the design of the Step Pyramid.

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

E.  He criticised the design and construction of other pyramids in Egypt.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Answers With Explanations 12-13

Type of question: Matching Features

In this task, you are required to match a list of opinions or deeds with the correct individuals from a provided list. This type of question tests your ability to identify relationships and connections between people and their contributions or viewpoints, as mentioned in the text.

How to best answer: 

• Carefully read the instructions to know what criteria or basis you’re using for matching.
• Identify the key features or attributes of each item on the list.
• Use the elimination process to narrow down the options for the remaining matches.
• Review all matches to ensure they are coherent and aligned with the given criteria.
• Look for patterns or relationships between items to improve the efficiency of making correct matches.
• Finalise your answers.

12. B – There is disagreement concerning the length of his reign

Reference: 

From paragraph 2: “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. “

Explanation: 

The given passage explains the dispute between the historians regarding the duration of King Dojser’s reign. While some believe it to be 19 years, some scholars attribute a longer duration to his governance, considering the huge number of monuments he built during his reign. Hence, paragraph 2 justifies option B.

13. D – A few of his possessions were still in his tomb when archaeologists found it

Reference: 

From paragraph 6: “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. There was enough left throughout the pyramid and its complex, however, to astonish and amaze the archaeologists who excavated it.”

Explanation: 

As the paragraph suggests, most of the valuable goods from Djjoser’s grave were stolen. Even his body was stolen by the robbers. However, a few remnants were found by the archaeologists who excavated the tomb. Hence, paragraph 6 justifies option D.

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In Summary

The given passage, The Step Pyramid Of Djoser, is a sample passage for the IELTS Reading test. You can expect similar paragraphs for your IELTS Reading test. The passages usually feature excerpts from textbooks, magazines, newspapers, and articles. They are mostly suitable for students entering a university-level education.  

Practising more IELTS sample papers is the quickest way to ace the test. Try to answer as many model questions and mock tests as possible. You can get free samples from Leap. 

Before appearing for your test, ensure you have covered all the necessary topics for your exam. Make sure you practice all the four modules consistently. Leap’s IELTS Experts can assure you with quality classes and specialised practice papers. 

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