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SECTION A: COMPREHENSION QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND…

SECTION A: COMPREHENSION QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING TEXT A  Ancient Egypt Crucial to survival in ancient Egypt was the River Nile. At 6853km long, it is the longest river in the world.   ‘Black land’ In ancient times, its fertile soil provided rich nutrients for growing crops, which fed and clothed the people. Some of the food grown was also traded. The land flooded every year, leaving a thick, black silt on the ground, which made the ground very good for growing plants. This was known as ‘black land’.   ‘Red land’ Away from the river, Egyptians also needed its ‘red land’, which was the red, dry desert where nothing could grow. It protected the Egyptians because it separated Egypt from neighbouring countries and invading armies. The ‘red land’ was also rich in precious metals and gems such as gold, copper, and granite.   Egyptian people relied on the water of the River Nile for drinking and washing. A useful crop that grew along the riverbanks was papyrus reeds. They were dried and used to make a type of paper. Traveling along the river were traders transporting items, fishermen, and sailors. Pharaohs enjoyed cruising up and down the river in luxury. Meanwhile, ordinary Egyptians created inventive ways of using the river water as extensively as possible. One important invention, still used widely today, was the shaduf. This was designed to scoop water from the river and move it so that it could be sprinkled on the land where crops were growing.   [240 words]     Click the button above to open TEXT: A in a new tab