Dive into the captivating history with NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 3, “Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues.” Unearth the mysteries of ancient Egypt through insightful questions and answers that unravel the story of King Tutankhamun’s legacy. These comprehensive solutions provide a window into the past, enabling students to grasp historical significance while mastering English literature. Explore the saga of Tutankhamun with these thoughtfully curated NCERT Solutions.
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter – 3 Discovering Tut : the saga continues Questions and Answers
Understanding the text
1. Give reasons for the following.
(1) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.
Answer: King Tutankhamun’s remains have undergone continual examination due to the following purposes:
(a) Unveiling enigmas and gathering insights into his life and demise.
(b) Acquiring unresolved inquiries and exact information to facilitate a precise forensic analysis of his remains. The emphasis is shifting slightly from treasures to delve deeper into the captivating intricacies of his life and the puzzling enigmas surrounding his death.
(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.
Answer: The Howard Carter inquiry was met with resistance due to the significant value King’s mummy held for scientists in uncovering the truth. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiques, expressed that the mummy’s state is lamentable, attributed to Carter’s actions in the 1920s. As she leaned over the body during her initial, extended examination, Hawass initiated the exploration of the mummy’s three successive coffins.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.
Answer: Chiseling was necessary for Carter to remove the hardened resins that had affixed the King’s body to the base of his solid gold coffin. Eventually, after an extensive duration, Tutankhamun’s coffin was unearthed. Scientists were filled with curiosity to unveil the enigma, compelling them to initiate thorough research. The compacted substance had to be painstakingly chipped off from underneath the limbs and torso, paving the way to elevate the King’s remains.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
Answer: The wealth of King Tut’s royal lineage was substantial. Whenever a member of the royal family passed away, their relatives would inter the royal body along with treasures as a tribute. Consequently, Tutankhamun’s remains were laid to rest accompanied by adorned riches.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
Answer: Following Akhenaten’s demise, a figure of intrigue named Smenkhare emerged fleetingly and stirred curiosity. Shortly thereafter, the youthful Tutankhaten ascended to the throne, gaining widespread recognition as King Tut. The young monarch swiftly altered his name to Tutankhamun, signifying the ‘living image of Amun,’ and supervised the revival of ancient traditions.
2. (i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.
Answer: Ray Johnson labeled Akhenaten as ‘eccentric’ based on the following actions:
(a) He converted a newly established city into a religious capital, displacing this honor from the former city of Thebes.
(b) He intensified the astonishment in the nation by challenging Amun, a prominent deity, and proceeded to deface icons while closing the temples dedicated to Amun.
(c) He abruptly implemented shifts in the worship practices associated with the monarchy.
(ii) What were the results of the CT scan ?
Answer: The CT scan findings included:
(a) A grayish head emerged gradually from an array of pixels, and the technician rotated and tilted it from various angles.
(b) Additional images disclosed a hand, multiple perspectives of the rib cage, and a cross-section of the skull.
(c) The neck vertebrae materialized as distinctly as they would in an anatomy classroom.
(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
Answer: The enhancements in technology that have elevated forensic analysis include the following:
Forensic technology has undergone swift progress. Innovations in X-ray and CT scan capabilities enable the visualization of internal structures without harming bodily organs, generating precise images through these methodologies. These techniques offer an accurate three-dimensional portrayal of the body, supplying tangible information for precise forensic reconstruction.
(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned in death, as in life…”
Answer: King Tut ascended to the throne at the age of nine, reigning for a span of eight years before his passing at the age of eighteen. The circumstances behind his demise remained enigmatic. In an effort to unravel the puzzle surrounding his death, scientists discovered his mummy in 1922. Employing scanning technology, the mummy was meticulously examined to uncover the details of his passing. This process highlights how “King Tut was among the early mummies to be examined through scanning both in life and in death.”
Talking about the text
Discuss the following in groups of two pairs, each pair in a group taking opposite points of view.
1. Scientific intervention is necessary to unearth buried mysteries.
Answer:
In Favor of Scientific Intervention for Unearthing Buried Mysteries:
Scientific exploration uncovers hidden truths of our history and culture, advancing knowledge through methods like carbon dating and DNA analysis. Preservation of artifacts safeguards history for future generations, while unbiased analysis provides accurate insights. Medical and cultural understanding are enriched, fostering appreciation.
Against Scientific Intervention for Unearthing Buried Mysteries:
Ethical concerns arise over sacred sites and ancestral remains, and context may be lost in hasty excavations. Irreversible damage to artifacts and misinterpretation can occur, while commercialization can exploit knowledge. Balancing the benefits and drawbacks is crucial to respectful, accurate exploration.
2. Advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence of past events.
Answer:
In favor :- Cutting-edge tools such as X-ray, CT scans, and forensic analyses provide irrefutable proof of historical occurrences. These advancements unveil details of both natural and unnatural demises.
Against :- These technologies give us ideas about the events but not conclusions. They are helpful for the doctors to seek out the diseases.
3. Traditions, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.
Answer:
In favor :- Human beings inherently thrive in social environments. As integral components of societies, individuals adhere to established norms, including funerary customs. These traditions, rituals, and practices are binding, underscoring the importance of respecting and upholding them.
Against :- In our contemporary and progressive society, outdated traditions, rituals, and funerary practices have become obsolete. It is imperative to eliminate them entirely. These practices are detrimental, perpetuating ignorance within our community.
4. Knowledge about the past is useful to complete our knowledge of the world we live in.
Answer:
In favor :- Insights into historical events contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the world. Familiarity with the past illuminates life’s journey and unveils its hidden intricacies.
Against :- For a malevolent individual, knowledge can turn into a curse as it becomes a tool for wrongful actions. Present-day humanity often engages in altering natural elements, causing harm to the well-being of mankind.
Thinking about language
1. Read the following piece of information from The Encyclopedia of Language by David Crystal. Egyptian is now extinct: its history dates from before the third millennium B.C., preserved in many hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts. Around the second century A.D., it developed into a language known as Coptic. Coptic may still have been used as late as the early nineteenth century and is still used as a religious language by Monophysite Christians in Egypt.
2. What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?
Answer: The extinction of languages can be attributed to several factors, including shifts in societal circumstances, insufficient preservation efforts, and a lack of linguistic stability.
3. Do you think it is important to preserve languages?
Answer: Certainly, the preservation of languages holds significant importance.
4. In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages and dialects?
Answer: We believe that a potential solution to thwarting the decline of languages and dialects lies in offering comprehensive training for the establishment of museums and promoting education about them. It is crucial to actively promote academic standards in this endeavor.
Working with words
1. Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they have been used together.
(i) ghostly dust devils
(ii) desert sky
(iii) stunning artifacts
(iv) funerary treasures
(v) scientific detachment
(vi) dark-bellied clouds
(vii) casket gray
(viii) eternal brilliance
(ix) ritual resins
(x) virtual body
Answer: These word combinations contribute to the language’s elegance and depth, as they are utilized to precisely emphasize particular meanings within the language.
2. Here are some commonly used medical terms. Find out their meanings.
| CT scan : | Utilizing computed tomography to generate a three-dimensional virtual representation of the body. |
| MRI : | Employing Magnetic Resonance Imaging to capture detailed internal structures. |
| tomography : | Employing X-rays to capture images within a specific body plane. |
| autopsy : | Investigating a deceased body to determine the cause of death. |
| dialysis : | The procedure of separating substances to create a clear solution. |
| ECG : | Creating a visual record of the heart’s electrical currents through an electrocardiogram. |
| post mortem : | Conducting a medical examination after death to gather insights. |
| angiography : | A medical procedure involving X-rays to visualize blood vessels. |
| biopsy : | Extracting tissues from a living body to diagnose diseases. |
Things to do
1. The constellation Orion is associated with the legend of Osiris, the god of the afterlife.
Find out the astronomical descriptions and legends associated with the following.
(i) Ursa Major (Saptarishi mandala)
(ii) Polaris (Dhruva tara)
(iii) Pegasus (Winged horse)
(iv) Sirius (Dog star)
(v) Gemini (Mithuna)
Answer:
(i) Ursa Major, also known as the Saptarishi mandala, comprises a constellation of stars that can be observed from various latitudes during the night. Its stars include Mizar, Alkaid, Merak, Phecda, and Megrez, collectively known as the Saptarishi mandala.
(ii) Polaris, referred to as Dhruva tara, remains consistently visible in the northern hemisphere. It is located at a distance of 680 light years from Earth and stands out as the prominent star within its constellation.
(iii) Pegasus, the Winged Horse, finds its origin in Greek mythology as a horse with wings. It was said to have sprung from the blood of Medusa.
(iv) Sirius, known as the Dog Star, resembles the shape of a dog and exhibits a blue-white hue. It sparkles within its constellation when observed from Earth and completes a full rotation in 50 years. Its distance from Earth is approximately 8.7 light years.
(v) Gemini, also referred to as Mithuna, forms a constellation within the zodiac. This constellation features two visible stars, Pollux and Castor, which are known as the celestial twins.
2. Some of the leaves and flowers mentioned in the passage for adorning the dead are willow, olive, celery, lotus, and cornflower. Which of these are common in our country?
Answer: Willy, lotus, and cornflower are prevalent floral species in our nation.
3. Name some leaves and flowers that are used as adornments in our country.
Answer: Mango, banana, and palm leaves serve as decorative elements in our culture, while rose, marigold, daisy, and jasmine are flowers commonly utilized for adornment purposes in our country.
Notes
Understanding the text
Factual comprehension: giving reasons, listing
Talking about the text
Debate on issues raised in the text related to rediscovering history with the help of technology; respect for traditions (reflection on issues)
Thinking about language
Extinction of language and language preservation
Working with words
Understanding adjective collocations; common medical terms
Things to do
• Relating astronomical facts and legends (across the curriculum) • Finding out botanical correlates