Question Bank — Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues

QUESTION BANK

Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues (A.R. Williams)

Section A — MCQs (10 × 1 = 10 marks)

1. Why was King Tut’s mummy subjected to a CT scan in 2005?
   a) To confirm his age at death
   b) To obtain precise data for forensic reconstruction and solve medical mysteries
   c) To check the condition of the gold coffin
   d) To verify the curse of the pharaoh

2. The expression “casket grey” refers to:
   a) A grey coffin
   b) Dark-bellied clouds veiling the stars
   c) The colour of the CT scanner
   d) The shade of the mummy’s wrappings

3. Howard Carter had to chisel away the resins because:
   a) The resins had hardened and cemented Tut to the coffin
   b) He wanted to steal the gold
   c) The sun had melted the resins
   d) The mummy was already damaged

4. Assertion (A): Carter removed Tut’s head and severed major joints.
   Reason (R): The ritual resins had hardened, making it impossible to separate the mummy from the coffin without force.
   Choose the correct option:
   a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   c) A is true but R is false.
   d) A is false but R is true.

5. The phrase “circumvented the guards” means:
   a) Helped the guards
   b) Bypassed or evaded the guards
   c) Replaced the guards
   d) Arrested the guards

6. Assertion (A): Akhenaten is described as “wacky” by Ray Johnson.
   Reason (R): He promoted the worship of Aten, changed his name, shifted the capital, and attacked the god Amun.
   a) Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A.
   b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
   c) A is true, R is false.
   d) A is false, R is true.

7. The CT scan of Tut’s mummy produced:
   a) 600 images
   b) 1,700 digital X-ray images in cross-section
   c) Only images of the head
   d) Conventional X-ray plates

8. Tut changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun to:
   a) Honour his father
   b) Restore the old worship of Amun
   c) Please the priests of Aten
   d) Hide his identity

9. Which everyday items were buried with Tut?
   a) Only gold jewellery
   b) Board games, bronze razor, linen undergarments, food and wine
   c) Weapons and chariots only
   d) Papyrus scrolls

10. The “curse of the pharaoh” joke was made when:
    a) The scanner stopped working due to sand in the fan
    b) Tourists disturbed the tomb
    c) Carter chiselled the mummy
    d) The wind stopped suddenly

Section B — Reference to Context (3 × 4 = 12 marks)

Extract 1

“An angry wind stirred up ghostly dust devils as King Tut was taken from his resting place… Dark-bellied clouds had scudded across the desert sky all day and now were veiling the stars in casket grey.”

1. What is the context of this description?
2. Explain the meaning of “scudded across” and “casket grey”.
3. Identify the literary device used in “ghostly dust devils”.
4. What atmosphere does the writer create through this description?

Extract 2

“No amount of legitimate force could move them… the consolidated material had to be chiselled away from beneath the limbs and trunk…”

1. Who is the speaker/writer of these lines and what problem is being described?
2. Why did Carter resort to chiselling?
3. Name the literary device in “consolidated material”.
4. What does this incident reveal about Carter’s methods?

Extract 3

“King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned — in death, as in life, moving regally ahead of his countrymen.”

1. What does the phrase “in death, as in life” imply?
2. Explain the meaning of “regally ahead”.
3. Identify the figure of speech used.
4. How does this line connect the present scientific effort with Tut’s historical status?

Section C — Short Answer Questions (5 × 3 = 15 marks)

(Answer in 40–50 words each)

1. Why was King Tut’s body subjected to repeated scrutiny?
2. How did Carter attempt to separate the mummy from the coffin? Why did he fail initially?
3. What changes did Akhenaten introduce and why was he called “wacky”?
4. List any three advances in technology mentioned that have helped forensic analysis of mummies.
5. Why did the technicians bring plastic fans during the CT scan?

Section D — Long Answer Questions (2 × 6 = 12 marks)

(Answer in 100–120 words each)

1. “Archaeology has changed substantially in the intervening decades.” How is this change reflected in the investigation of King Tut’s mummy?
2. “King Tut’s demise was a big event, even by royal standards.” Discuss the historical significance of Tut’s death and the events that followed.

Section E — Language and Writing (2 × 4 = 8 marks)

1. Match the following expressions with their meanings as used in the text:
   (i) scudded across  (ii) circumvented  (iii) resurrection  (iv) eerie detail
   (a) brought back to life (b) moved quickly (c) bypassed (d) strange and frightening clarity

2. Imagine you are Zahi Hawass. Write a short diary entry (80–100 words) on the night Tut’s mummy was scanned, expressing your anxiety and final relief.