114] Reading [Food & Drinks in ancient Egyptians' tombs]

Read the text, then answer the questions below:

Because there are so many pyramids, tombs and temples in Egypt, it is easy to believe that the Ancient Egyptians worked mostly in order to have a good life after death. They also believed that food was just as important to the dead as it was for the living. The dead man's family always used to fill the tomb with containers of food and drink. They believed that the soul of a dead person would feel hunger and thirst in the afterlife, just as a living person does in life.

Food was provided in different ways. Sometimes real food was put into the tomb. When Tutankhamun’s tomb was opened, the remains of baskets of fruit, nuts, honey, garlic and bread were found. Sometimes the food was made from durable stone or wood, so that it might last forever.

Another method of providing food for the dead man's soul was to paint the walls of the tomb with pictures of vegetables, fruits and animals. The legs of the animals were often tied so that they could not make a noise or escape from the tomb. Lists of hieroglyphs were also written on the walls; these showed how much bread, meat and drink would be needed each day.   

Answer the following questions:

1.   Why did the ancient Egyptians put food and drink in the tombs of their dead?

2.   What kind of writings were found inside the tomb?

3.   What was the main aim of painting pictures on the walls of the tombs?

4.   What does the underlined word (they) refer to?

5.   How could the ancient Egyptians provide food for the dead?