Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 3 – Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues (A.R. Williams) Short Question Answers

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English

Hornbill

Chapter 3 – Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues (A.R. Williams)

Short Question Answers

Question 1.

Who was Tut?

Answer:

Tut was the final heir of a powerful dynasty that had ruled Egypt and its empire for centuries. Ascending to the throne at a young age, he governed for nine years before meeting an unexpected demise in his teenage years.

 

Question 2.

What has the modern world speculated about King Tut?

Answer:

King Tut was entombed over 3,300 years ago as a mummy, and little is known about his life and death. Consequently, the modern world has engaged in speculation about the circumstances surrounding him, with fears that he may have been murdered.

 

Question 3.

Why did King Tut’s mummy have to undergo a CT scan?

Answer:

King Tut's untimely death as a teenager prompted the need for a CT scan on his mummy. The scan aimed to uncover new clues about his life and death, providing precise data for an accurate forensic reconstruction.

 

Question 4.

What did Carter find in the first coffin?

Answer:

Upon investigating Tut's three nested coffins, British archaeologist Carter discovered a shroud adorned with garlands of willow and olive leaves, wild celery, lotus petals, and cornflowers in the first coffin.

 

Question 5.

“When he finally reached the mummy, though, he ran into trouble.” Who ran into trouble and why?

Answer:

Howard Carter encountered trouble when he eventually reached King Tut's mummy, discovered in 1922. The challenge arose from the ritual resins hardening and cementing Tut to the bottom of his solid gold coffin.

 

Question 6.

Who is Zahi Hawass? What did he comment about Carter?

Answer:

Zahi Hawass serves as the Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. He commented that Tut's mummy was in poor condition due to Carter's actions in the 1920s when he discovered Tut’s tomb.

 

Question 7.

Why did Carter set the mummy of Tut outside in blazing sunshine?

Answer:

Carter exposed King Tut's mummy to the blazing sunshine for several hours, heating it to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. This was done to loosen the resins that had cemented Tut to the bottom of his solid gold coffin.

 

Question 8.

In what respect has archaeology changed in modern times?

Answer:

In modern times, archaeology has shifted its focus away from treasures, concentrating more on exploring the intricate details of life and unraveling the mysteries surrounding death.

 

Question 9.

How do archaeologists carry on their research now?

Answer:

With technological advancements, archaeologists now employ more sophisticated tools, including medical technology such as CT scans, to conduct their research.

 

Question 10.

What startling fact was revealed in 1968?

Answer:

In 1968, a professor of anatomy X-rayed Tut’s mummy, uncovering the startling fact that his breastbone and front ribs were missing.

 

Question 11.

Who began to probe the secrets after CT scanning of Tut’s mummy was performed?

Answer:

Following the successful CT scanning of Tut’s mummy, a team of specialists in radiology, forensics, and anatomy initiated the investigation into the secrets surrounding Tut’s life and death.

 

Question 12.

Why does the author say Amenhotep IV initiated one of the strangest periods in the history of ancient Egypt?

Answer:

The author refers to Amenhotep IV initiating one of the strangest periods in ancient Egypt's history because he promoted the worship of Aten, the sun disk, moved the religious capital to the new city of Akhetaten, and attacked the major god Amun, smashing his images and closing his temples.

 

Question 13.

What are the main functions of the Egyptian Mummy Project?

Answer:

The main functions of the Egyptian Mummy Project include keeping a record of the number of mummies, conducting an inventory since late 2003, and scanning the mummies using a donated CT machine.

 

Question 14.

How did Zahi Hawass feel after the CT scan was completed?

Answer:

Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, felt relieved after the completion of the CT scan. Anxious the day before, he had been unable to sleep, but his relief stemmed from the fact that nothing serious had gone wrong during the procedure.