Cleopatra, Popularly Called The Queen Of Nile, Is Very Well Known GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

Cleopatra, popularly called the Queen of Nile, is very well known for her powers of supposed enchanting beauty and powers of seduction. However, when she was alive, she was known more for her intellect than for her appearance. In fact, she spoke at least seven languages and was well-versed in the subjects of math, philosophy, astronomy, and public speaking. Furthermore, sources indicate that it was her brains that helped her successfully rule the ancient Egyptian kingdom as a dominant ruler – even though she only ruled as a co-regent, initially with her two younger brothers and then with her son – for almost three decades.

The lack of contemporary accounts of the queen’s life make it difficult for historians to precisely put together her life story. According to the works of Plutarch, a Greco-Roman scholar, Cleopatra ascended the throne at the young age of 18 along with her brother. Even though she had to ~ee Egypt due to her brother’s aversion towards her, she dedicated her efforts towards raising an army of mercenaries and returned to Egypt within a year to claim her throne. Furthermore, she formed a tactical alliance with the Roman ruler Julius Caesar in order to gain help in advancing her cause. After ascending the throne again, Cleopatra was able to maintain peace and prosperity in Egypt despite the frequent ~ooding of the Nile that resulted in crop failures. Eventually, she married Mark Antony, the then-Roman-army commander, in order to gain Roman military prowess – a move that further consolidated her position as the dominant ruler of Egypt. Such political shrewdness makes Cleopatra undoubtedly one of the most successful women in history, especially at a time when patriarchy dominated the society.

“Cleopatra, popularly called the Queen of Nile, is very well known”- is a reading comprehension exercise for the GMAT. Candidates must be extremely skilled in GMAT reading comprehension. This GMAT reading comprehension section contains three comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed to assess candidates' ability to comprehend, analyzation, and application skills. GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions can help candidates who are actively preparing.

Solutions and Explanation

1. What is the main point of the passage?

1. To highlight the intellectual side of Cleopatra
2. To describe the hardships faced by Cleopatra
3. To point out why Cleopatra was known for her beauty
4. To evaluate Cleopatra’s tactical decisions as the ruler of Egypt
5. To describe the relations between the Egyptian and the Roman rulers

2. According to the passage, which of the following was not a field in which Cleopatra was well-versed?

1. Math
2. Science
3. Public Speaking
4. Astronomy
5. Philosophy

3. For how many years did Cleopatra occupy the Egyptian throne as the sole ruler of the land?

1. Almost three decades
2. Slightly more than 18 years
3. Slightly less than 12 years
4. Zero years
5. Cannot be inferred from the passage

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