You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser

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.

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.

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 center 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 breaking up.’

When finally completed, the Step Pyramid rose 62 meters 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 meters high. The wall had 13 false doors cut into it with only one true entrance cut into the south-east
corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 750 meters long and 40 meters 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.

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 give a
‘proper burial’ by Djoser in his pyramid to honor 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.

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.

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 which all the other great
pyramid builders of Egypt would follow.

Questions 14-20

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

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

Write the correct number, i-ix, in boxes 14-20 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

14 Paragraph A

15 Paragraph B

16 Paragraph C

17 Paragraph D

18 Paragraph E

19 Paragraph F

20 Paragraph G

Questions 21-24

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 21-24 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 21
………………….. of the past. The area outside the pyramid included accommodation that was occupied by 22
………………….., 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 this. In addition,
a long 23 ………………….. 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 24 ………………….. of the real
entrance.

Questions 25-26

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Write the correct letters in boxes 25 and 26 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.

LISTENING

PART 1

Questions 1 – 10
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

JUNIOR CYCLE CAMP

The course focuses on skills and safety

● Charlie would be placed in Level 5.

● First of all, children at this level are taken to practise in a 1 …………… .
Instructors
● Instructors wear 2 …………… shirts.
● A 3 …………… is required and training is given.
Classes
● The size of the classes is limited.
● There are quiet times during the morning for a 4 …………… or a game.
● Classes are held even if there is 5 …………… .
What to bring
● a change of clothing
● a 6 ……………
● shoes (not sandals)
● Charlie’s 7 ……………
Day 1
● Charlie should arrive at 9.20 am on the first day.
● Before the class, his 8 …………… will be checked.
● He should then go to the 9 …………… to meet his class instructor.
Cost
● The course costs 10 $…………… per week.

PART 2

Questions 11 and 12
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
According to Megan, what are the TWO main advantages of working in the agriculture and
horticulture sectors?
A the active lifestyle
B the above-average salaries
C the flexible working opportunities
D the opportunities for overseas travel
E the chance to be in a natural environment

Questions 13 and 14
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Which TWO of the following are likely to be disadvantages for people working outdoors?
A the increasing risk of accidents
B being in a very quiet location
C difficult weather conditions at times
D the cost of housing
E the level of physical fitness required

Questions 15-20
What information does Megan give about each of the following job opportunities?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-H, next to Questions 15-20.
Information

A not a permanent job

B involves leading a team
C experience not essential
D intensive work but also fun
E chance to earn more through overtime
F chance for rapid promotion
G accommodation available
H local travel involved

Job opportunities
15 Fresh food commercial manager …………….
16 Agronomist …………….
17 Fresh produce buyer …………….
18 Garden centre sales manager …………….
19 Tree technician …………….
20 Farm worker …………….