NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English Hornbill: Discovering Tut the Saga Continues

Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues

Understanding the text

Question 1: Give reasons for the following.

Answer-

(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.

King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny because of lingering medical mysteries about his life and death, including how he died and how old he was at the time of his death. Since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, the modern world has speculated about what happened to him, with murder being the most extreme possibility. The 1968 X-ray revealed the startling fact that his breast-bone and front ribs are missing, further fueling the need for investigation using modern diagnostic imaging tools like computed tomography (CT) to provide precise data for an accurate forensic reconstruction.

(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.

Carter’s investigation was resented because of the physical damage inflicted upon the mummy. Zahi Hawass stated that “The mummy is in very bad condition because of what Carter did in the 1920s”. To separate Tut from the solidified ritual resins that cemented him to the solid gold coffin, Carter’s men had to remove the mummy’s head and severed nearly every major joint.

(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.

Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins because the ritual resins had hardened, cementing Tut to the bottom of his solid gold coffin, and “No amount of legitimate force could move them”. Even after setting the mummy in blazing sunshine that heated it to 149 degrees Fahrenheit, nothing budged. He reported that the “consolidated material had to be chiselled away”.

(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.

Tut's body was buried along with gilded treasures because the ancient Egyptians thought — or hoped — that the royals could take their riches with them on their journey to the great beyond. The stunning artefacts in gold, including the iconic inner coffin and mask, were meant to guarantee resurrection with their eternal brilliance.

(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.

The boy king, whose original name was Tutankhaten, changed his name to Tutankhamun, which means ‘living image of Amun’. He did this because he oversaw a restoration of the old ways following the death of Akhenaten, who had previously attacked Amun, a major god, smashing his images and closing his temples.

Question 2: (i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.

Answer-

The deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as "a little wacky" include:

(a) He promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk, and changed his name to Akhenaten, or ‘servant of the Aten’.

(b) He moved the religious capital from the old city of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten (Amarna).

(c) He attacked Amun, a major god, smashing his images and closing his temples.

(ii) What were the results of the CT scan?

Answer-

The immediate results of the CT scan were the creation of 1,700 digital X-ray images in cross section, forming a three-dimensional virtual body. These images provided astonishing images of Tut on a computer screen:

(a) A grey head took shape from a scattering of pixels, and the technician could spin and tilt it in every direction.

(b) Neck vertebrae appeared as clearly as in an anatomy class.

(c) Other images revealed a hand, several views of the rib cage, and a transection of the skull.

(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.

Answer-

The advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis include:

(a) The shift in archaeology from focusing on treasure to using more sophisticated tools, including medical technology.

(b) The development of computed tomography (CT), which puts together hundreds of X-rays in cross section like slices of bread to create a three-dimensional virtual body.

(c) The use of techniques by a team of specialists in radiology, forensics, and anatomy to probe the secrets using the highly detailed digital data.

(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned — in death, as in life...”

Answer-

The statement means that King Tut holds a prominent position both in his ancient royal life and in modern scientific investigation. In life, he moved regally ahead of his countrymen as the last heir of a powerful family. In death, he maintains this precedence by being one of the first mummies to be scanned using the portable CT machine donated by the National Geographic Society and Siemens, thus moving regally ahead of his countrymen in the ongoing Egyptian Mummy project inventory.

Talking about the text

Question 1: Scientific intervention is necessary to unearth buried mysteries.

Answer-

Note: This is a discussion question intended for debate. The response reflects the affirmative viewpoint supported by the text.

Scientific intervention is indeed necessary to unearth buried mysteries, particularly in archaeology, which now focuses less on treasure and more on the fascinating details of life and intriguing mysteries of death.

(a) Probing Mysteries: Scientific tools, such as the CT scan, are essential to probe the lingering medical mysteries of figures like King Tut, allowing researchers to gather precise data for an accurate forensic reconstruction. This modern intervention offers a window into the past that simple excavation cannot provide.

(b) Addressing Damage: Scientific analysis is also necessary to assess the damage caused by past, less sophisticated methods, such as those used by Carter in the 1920s. Diagnostic imaging allows researchers to understand the state of the remains, revealing startling facts such as the missing breast-bone and ribs.

(c) Data Preservation: The scanning process creates a three-dimensional virtual body, which records the intricate structures of the mummy, providing data that can be studied endlessly without subjecting the fragile remains to further physical disturbance.

Question 2: Advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence of past events.

Answer-

Note: This is a discussion question intended for debate. The response reflects the viewpoint supported by the potential of the technology mentioned in the text.

Advanced technology like computed tomography (CT) offers highly detailed and potentially conclusive evidence of past events, far exceeding older methods:

(a) Detailed Imaging: The CT scan, which uses hundreds of X-rays in cross section to create a three-dimensional virtual body, provides eerie detail and clarity. Images of neck vertebrae appearing as clearly as in an anatomy class demonstrate a level of detail previously unattainable.

(b) Answering Lingering Questions: The primary goal of the CT scan was to answer the biggest questions lingering about Tut—how did he die, and how old was he at the time of his death? While the text doesn't provide the final conclusions, the use of specialists in radiology, forensics, and anatomy working with precise data suggests the potential for conclusive, evidence-based answers over speculation.

Question 3: Traditions, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.

Answer-

Note: This is a discussion question intended for debate. The response reflects the viewpoint that traditions and rituals deserve respect, as implied by the tension in the text.

The narrative implicitly stresses the importance of respecting traditions, rituals, and funerary practices:

(a) Intrusive Archaeology: The modern assessment highlights how Howard Carter’s intrusive methods in the 1920s, which involved physically severing the mummy, were criticized ("The mummy is in very bad condition..."). This invasive approach violated the sacred nature of the funerary practices.

(b) Respectful Return: The reverence shown by the workmen and the peaceful return of the pharaoh to his resting place after the scan demonstrate a modern attempt to respect the ancient rites. The text notes that the pharaoh “again rested in peace where the funerary priests had laid him so long ago,” watched over by Orion, the soul of Osiris, the god of the afterlife.

(c) Visitor Reverence: Even the tourists who descended into the tomb showed respect, gazing at the murals and peering at Tut’s gilded face, reading guidebooks in a whisper and pondering the pharaoh’s curse.

Question 4: Knowledge about the past is useful to complete our knowledge of the world we live in.

Answer-

Note: This is a discussion question intended for reflection.

Knowledge about the past is essential for understanding our current world, particularly through the lens of history and human behavior:

(a) Understanding History and Dynasty: Learning about figures like Tut allows us to trace the death rattle of a dynasty and understand radical historical shifts, such as Akhenaten's shocking attack on the major god Amun and the subsequent restoration of the old ways under Tutankhamun. This knowledge provides context for the origins of social and religious structures.

(b) Shifting Archaeological Focus: The change in archaeology itself reflects a modern shift in focus: moving from simple treasure hunting to investigating the fascinating details of life and intriguing mysteries of death. This shows an evolution in how humanity values historical knowledge—using the past to understand human existence beyond mere wealth.

(c) Technological Application: Modern interventions, like the CT scan, are driven by a contemporary desire to apply advanced knowledge (medical technology, forensics) to ancient questions, confirming that the mysteries of the past are relevant to the knowledge of the world we live in.

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Thinking about language

Question 1: What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?

Answer-

The sources provide the example of Egyptian becoming extinct (though preserved in hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts, and later evolving into Coptic). Based on this, general reasons for language extinction often relate to:

(a) Historical/Political Upheaval: Major changes in ruling powers or political systems (like the shift in Egypt's religious capital and the end of a powerful family line) can cause language shift and decline.

(b) Evolution and Replacement: Languages naturally evolve, as seen when Egyptian developed into Coptic around the second century A.D., sometimes leading to the original form becoming extinct.

(c) Loss of Community/Use: If a language is no longer the primary means of communication for a culture or community, or is only used as a religious language, it may cease to be spoken widely.

Question 2: Do you think it is important to preserve languages?

Answer-

Note: This is a reflection question.

Yes, it is important to preserve languages. As the text indicates, the history of languages like Egyptian is preserved in ancient forms, such as hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts. Preserving languages preserves the unique perspective, knowledge, and history embedded within that culture's linguistic structure.

Question 3: In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages and dialects?

Answer-

Note: This is a reflection question.

Ways to prevent language extinction include:

(a) Education: Teaching the language and its history, ensuring it is used beyond just the home or religious context.

(b) Documentation: Recording languages and dialects, particularly through modern means like digital archives and linguistic studies.

(c) Encouraging Media Use: Promoting the use of the language in media, literature, and technology to keep it relevant and actively used by younger generations.

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Working with words

Question 1: Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they have been used together.

Answer-

Question 2: Here are some commonly used medical terms. Find out their meanings.

Answer-

Note: The source mentions the terms but does not define them. The definitions provided below are general knowledge based on the context of medical technology mentioned in the text (CT scan, diagnostic imaging).