What is described as being "famously inevitable" alongside death in the passage?
Taxes
Change
Disease
Decomposition
According to the passage, what stops in a dead body, allowing decomposition to begin?
Cell renewal
The flow of blood
Bacterial activity
Enzyme production
How did ancient Egyptian mummifiers typically remove the brain, according to the Greek historian Herodotus?
Dissolving it with acidic liquids
Extracting it through the eye sockets
By mashing it with a spike and flushing it out the nose
Surgically through the back of the skull
Why were tree resins poured into the skull after brain removal?
To prevent further decomposition
To reshape the head
To add fragrance
To act as a placeholder for the afterlife
Why were the abdominal organs considered a priority for removal?
They were valued as offerings to the gods.
They were believed to hold negative spirits.
They contained digestive enzymes and bacteria that would accelerate decay.
They were the easiest to access.
Which organ was treated with special care and typically left inside the body?
The lungs
The liver
The heart
The stomach
What substance was used to pack and cover the body to draw out moisture and prevent decay?
Sand
Natron
Sea salt
Lime
What are the two main alkaline salts found in natron?
Saltpeter and calcium chloride
Soda ash and baking soda
Table salt and Epsom salt
Borax and potassium nitrate
How long was the body typically left in a bed of natron?
About 35 days
About 7 days
About 15 days
About 70 days
After the natron treatment, what was poured over the body to seal it?
Wine
Cedar oil
Tree resin
Honey
What material was used to wrap the preserved body?
Cotton
Wool
Papyrus
Linen
What has the study of mummies revealed about air quality in ancient Egypt?
Industrial smog was common in cities.
It was very clean due to desert winds.
Pollution was a serious problem, likely from indoor fires for baking.
There is no evidence of respiratory issues.
What common disease has been identified in mummies through study?
Leprosy
Smallpox
Malaria
Tuberculosis
What percentage of the body's original mass is estimated to be lost during the mummification process?
About one quarter
About half
Nearly all
About one third
According to the passage's final anecdote, what were some mummies classified as for tax purposes during transport?
Salty
Preserved meat
Works of art
Religious artifacts