A Pharaohly Big Deal - Stage 4 Comp - Chapter 2 - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 4 Unit focus: A Pharaohly Big Deal Text focus: Narrative Chapter 2 Sen opened his eyes. He saw the ghost still si ng there in front of him, only now he was desper...

STAGE 4 Unit focus: A Pharaohly Big Deal Text focus: Narrative Chapter 2 Sen opened his eyes. He saw the ghost still si ng there in front of him, only now he was desperately trying to grasp Sen’s quill to write something down. He closed his eyes again. He opened them. “You can’t be here,” Sen said, finally. “You’re dead.” “What’s that got to do with the price of papyrus?” the definitely dead Pharaoh Qar said, giving up on the quill. “Everyone knows that death is just the beginning. There’s a whole load of stuff on the other side. I’m just starting my a erlife here. It happens more than you’d think.” Sen shook his head. “I think I’d have seen more ghosts around here if that was true.” “Do you look out for ghosts o en?” Another shake of the head. “That’s probably why you don’t see them, then. You wouldn’t have seen me if I hadn’t got your a ention.” Sen had to admit that was true. “I’ll be out of your hair soon enough. Just go over to the palace, kill the murderous brute who got to me, and then I’ll be on my way.” The sound of Bastet licking his paws was the only one in the hut for a while. “You want me to go to the palace?” Sen asked eventually. Qar nodded. “And avenge my death, yes.” “I can’t get into the palace.” “Of course you can. You’re tiny, and the doors are massive. You’ll fit in easily.” “I mean,” Sen explained with as much patient respect as he felt a ghost deserved, “they won’t let me in. We are mortals who mustn’t look upon the Pharaoh.” “Don’t worry, that’s just because he’s a bit ugly. You won’t get turned into a locust or anything like that.” “Who killed you, anyway?” Sen tried to change the subject. “A man named Kheti. Horrible li le scarab beetle. He wants to be Pharaoh next. I told him, ‘It’s not like waiting your turn for a go on the carriage’. You have to be born a Pharaoh. He all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com thinks he can murder his way to the top. I think he’s working with one of the ladies in the palace.” “How do you know it was him?” “Having somebody murder you and push you down the steps rather focuses the mind,” Qar said tetchily. “I won’t do it,” Sen said, standing up and trying to look busy. “Fine, then I’ll stick around here,” the ghost replied, knocking pots and baskets from the shelves. “Nobody else will be able to see me, and you’ll look crazy. You’ll be out there building pyramids before you know it.” Sen rolled his eyes and groaned. “I can’t kill anybody. I’m no good with blood and guts.” Sen and Qar glanced at the Pharaoh’s body lying on the slab. “That’s different. They are already dead, and Dje does most of the messy stuff.” “Okay, don’t kill him. Just let everybody know what he did.” “Fine!” Sen exclaimed, throwing his hands up into the air. “I’ll come with you. I can’t leave the room like this, though. I need a body.” “You’re not having mine,” Sen interrupted. “That’s not what I had in mind,” the ghost said, smirking and looking at Bastet high up on his shelf. VOCABULARY FOCUS 1. Find and copy a phrase that means similar to “you’d be surprised by” something. 2. What impression do you get of somebody from the word “brute”? 3. If somebody is “out of your hair”, what does it mean? 4. If somebody is “mortal”, what does it mean? 5. Which word, in the final sentence, tells you that the Pharaoh is happy with his plan? VIPERS QUESTIONS R Who does the Pharaoh think murdered him? S Why does the Pharaoh think he was killed? I Why are they both surprised when Sen says that he doesn’t like blood and guts? S What is the first plan that the Pharaoh comes up with? R Why can’t people look at the Pharaoh? all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com