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About the Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Passage
This passage covers the history and construction of the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, Egypt. It discusses the roles of Pharaoh Djoser and his architect Imhotep, the transition from mastaba tombs to the iconic six-tiered pyramid, and the religious and ceremonial purpose of the surrounding complex.
The passage comes from Cambridge IELTS 17, Academic Test 1, Passage 1.
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on the passage below.
This passage contains two question types:
- True/False/Not Given: Questions 1–7
- Sentence Completion: Questions 8–13
The Step Pyramid of Djoser: Full Reading Passage
Paragraph A
Djoser was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned during the Third Dynasty, in the 27th century BCE. He is best known for commissioning the construction of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, which is widely regarded as the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. The pyramid was built as a tomb, but it also served as a monument that would reflect Djoser's power and divine status.
Paragraph B
Before the Step Pyramid, Egyptian rulers were buried in rectangular, flat-topped structures known as mastabas. Imhotep, Djoser's chief architect and a man of considerable intellectual ability, designed a new type of monument. He began with a large square mastaba and then built successively smaller mastabas on top of each other. The result was a six-stepped pyramid reaching a height of about 62 meters. The burial chamber was located beneath the pyramid, cut deep into the bedrock.
Paragraph C
Imhotep used small limestone blocks for the construction, roughly the same size as the mud bricks that had been used in earlier buildings. This was innovative: large stone monuments had not been attempted before. He covered the structure with fine-quality limestone casing. The decision to use stone rather than mud-brick was a radical departure from existing building practices.
Paragraph D
The outer casing of the pyramid was later removed and used in other building projects. However, the pyramid itself has survived remarkably well. The complex surrounding the pyramid was also enclosed by a large perimeter wall, about 10.5 meters high, made of fine white limestone. This wall had fourteen doors, though only one of them was functional; the rest were false doors, built for ritual purposes.
Paragraph E
Inside the walled enclosure, there was a large open courtyard on the south side of the pyramid. Archaeologists believe it was used for the Heb-Sed festival, a ceremony in which the pharaoh demonstrated his fitness to continue ruling. The festival typically took place after a king had reigned for 30 years and then every three years after that. Djoser's complex also included several small chapels and shrines.
Paragraph F
The Heb-Sed court contained representations of chapels from Upper and Lower Egypt, symbolizing the pharaoh's rule over the unified nation. This architectural program communicated a strong political message: that Djoser ruled all of Egypt. His pyramid complex was a statement of royal power on a scale that had never been seen before.
Paragraph G
Attached to the north face of the pyramid was a structure called the "serdab'', a small, sealed room containing a life-sized statue of Djoser. The serdab had two small holes at eye level, which allowed the statue to look out at the world and, according to ancient Egyptian belief, receive offerings brought by worshippers. This was a standard feature in Egyptian funerary architecture.
Paragraph H
Imhotep himself was regarded as a figure of extraordinary genius. In later centuries, he was deified, elevated to the status of a god by the Egyptians, and worshipped as a god of medicine and wisdom. This is an extremely rare honor, given to very few non-royal Egyptians in history. Temples were later built in his name across Egypt and Nubia.
Paragraph I
The Step Pyramid complex remains one of the most studied sites in Egyptology. It demonstrates the engineering ambition of the Third Dynasty and marks the beginning of the pyramid-building age in Egypt. Subsequent rulers built their own pyramids, learning from and improving on the techniques developed at Saqqara under Imhotep's direction.
The Step Pyramid of Djoser Reading Questions and Answers
True/False/Not Given: Questions 1–7
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara is considered to be the earliest large stone construction in Egypt.
2. Imhotep constructed the Step Pyramid by stacking mastabas of equal size on top of one another.
3. Imhotep had previously designed buildings in other parts of Egypt before working on the Step Pyramid.
4. The perimeter wall surrounding the pyramid complex was built from fine white limestone.
5. The Heb-Sed festival took place every five years throughout a pharaoh's reign.
6. Djoser took part in the Heb-Sed festival that was held in the courtyard of the complex.
7. Imhotep was eventually given divine status by the ancient Egyptians.
Sentence Completion: Questions 8–13
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
8. Before the Step Pyramid was built, Egyptian rulers were placed in ______ chambers cut into the bedrock beneath their mastabas.
9. Imhotep covered the exterior of the Step Pyramid with a fine ______.
10. The perimeter wall of the complex was made of ______.
11. Archaeologists believe that the ______ on the south side of the pyramid was used for a royal ceremony.
12. The life-sized statue of Djoser was housed in a sealed room called a ______.
13. The ______ court contained chapel representations from both Upper and Lower Egypt.
