Name:_____________________________
Date:_____________
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World History 7 – EGYPT PSSA Writing Prompt
The Importance of the Nile River to Egyptians
The River Nile was called "Iteru-aa" in Egyptian. The water of the Nile,
together with canals, wells, and lakes, was important for washing,
purification, and rituals.
The ancient Egyptians worshiped several gods and goddesses associated
with the Nile. The main god of the Nile was Hapy or "Hapy, father of the
gods." Hapy was portrayed as a chubby man, painted black or blue, and
symbolizing the fertility that the Nile gave Egypt. Hapy was depicted
holding flowers, fowl, fish, vegetables, and fruits, as well as the palm frond,
the symbol of years. Sometimes the Nile god would have the lotus flower of
Upper Egypt and the papyrus of Lower Egypt on his head.
Egyptians prayed to the Nile god and thanked him for all the blessings that
he bestows upon the people, especially during the festival of inundation, or
flooding. Read the following prayer the Egyptians offered to the god, Hapy
asking him to bless Egypt.
"Praise to you, O Nile, that issues from the
earth, and comes to nourish Egypt ...
That waters the meadows, that Re has
created to nourish all cattle.
That delivers water to the desert places,
which are far from water; it is his dew that
falls from heaven ... lord of fish, that makes
the waterfowl to go upstream ...
that makes barley and creates wheat, so
that he may cause the temples to keep
festivals."
Read the above passage and answer the following multiple choice questions.
Please circle the correct answer.
1. Use context clues to guess what the word fertility means in the second
paragraph.
a. power and strength
b. wealth and prosperity
c. plant growth and nutrients
d. death and destruction
2. Which of the following is NOT A BLESSING of the Nile referred to in
the prayer to Hapy?
a. water to the desert places
b. dew that falls from heaven
c. lord of fish
d. makes barley and creates wheat
3. What can you infer about ancient Egyptian religion after reading the
passage?
a. Egyptian gods and goddesses were tied to nature, especially the
Nile River and farming.
b. The Egyptians worshipped the pharaoh as a god.
c. Egyptian religion was obsessed with the afterlife and mummies.
d. The ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife.
4. In the passage, what does “dew that falls from heaven” refer to?
a. rain falling from the sky
b. the waters of the Nile
c. lakes and rivers in the Nile delta
d. lord of fish
5. Which best describes the organizational pattern of this passage?
a. question and answer
b. in order of importance
c. cause and effect
d. problem and solution
Answer the question
Cite from the text
Explain your examples
What is the question being asked of you?
What are the “blessings” that the Nile River provides to Egypt? Use three examples
from the poem to support your response.
Answer
Cite
Explain
Cite
Explain
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Explain
“Done”Connect
Back
Transitions: also, again, as well as, for example, for instance, at first,
Explain
first of all, to begin with, after all, all in all, to summarize, finally
Cite