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26 Oct 2026
Credit: Getty
Pyramid Puzzles: The Secrets Scientists Still Can't Solve
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A big boat in the sand
b) A secret space inside a pyramid
c) A dinosaur in a museum
Ask:
(1) What shape is a pyramid?
(2) Do you know a country with pyramids?
VOCABULARY
pyramid (/ˈpɪrəmɪd/, noun)
Meaning: A very big building with a square bottom and four sides that meet in a point at the top.
Example: We are making a paper pyramid in class today.
stone (/stəʊn/, noun)
Meaning: A hard piece of rock.
Example: I have a smooth grey stone in my pocket.
heavy (/ˈhevi/, adjective)
Meaning: Hard to lift or carry because it weighs a lot.
Example: My school bag is very heavy on Mondays.
worker (/ˈwɜːkə/, noun)
Meaning: A person who does a job.
Example: The workers are building a new playground.
ramp (/ræmp/, noun)
Meaning: A slope that goes up, like a hill, so you can move things to a higher place.
Example: My brother rides his bike up the ramp.
secret (/ˈsiːkrət/, noun)
Meaning: Something that people do not know yet.
Example: The old box in the attic has a secret inside.
jungle (/ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/, noun)
Meaning: A big, hot forest with lots of tall trees and plants.
Example: Monkeys swing from tree to tree in the jungle.
Look! This is the Great Pyramid in Egypt. It is very big and very old, and lots of people love it. But it still has secrets, so scientists are working hard to find the answers.
Inside the pyramid, there is a big empty space. It is about 30 metres long! Nobody can go inside, because it is behind thick stone walls. Scientists think the space helps the pyramid carry its heavy top.
Now think about the stones. Some are as heavy as twenty elephants! How do people move them? Scientists think thousands of workers pull them with ropes and push them up long ramps. It is hard work, but the workers are clever and strong.
Egypt is famous for pyramids, but Sudan has more! They are smaller, with steep, pointy tops. Look at them in the hot, yellow sand. They are beautiful.
Today, scientists are also finding hidden pyramids in big green jungles. They use special machines in planes. So the pyramid story is not finished. There are lots of puzzles, and we are still learning!
The Great Void was found by looking for density changes in the rock - Credit: Alamy
Mesoamerican pyramids tend to feature tiered steps, rather than the smooth sides of their Egyptian cousins - Credit: Getty
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section 8: Discussion Questions
1. Do you like the pyramids? Why or why not?
2. What do you think is inside the empty space?
3. How do the workers move the heavy stones?
4. Which country has more pyramids, Egypt or Sudan?
5. Do you want to be a scientist? Why?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Use the words in the Word Bank to complete the text.
Word Bank: ramps, jungles, secrets, heavy
Look! This is the Great Pyramid in Egypt. It is very big and very old, and lots of people love it. But it still has _______(1), so scientists are working hard to find the answers.
Inside the pyramid, there is a big empty space. It is about 30 metres long! Nobody can go inside, because it is behind thick stone walls. Scientists think the space helps the pyramid carry its heavy top.
Now think about the stones. Some are as _______(2) as twenty elephants! How do people move them? Scientists think thousands of workers pull them with ropes and push them up long _______(3). It is hard work, but the workers are clever and strong.
Egypt is famous for pyramids, but Sudan has more! They are smaller, with steep, pointy tops. Look at them in the hot, yellow sand. They are beautiful.
Today, scientists are also finding hidden pyramids in big green _______(4). They use special machines in planes. So the pyramid story is not finished. There are lots of puzzles, and we are still learning!
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of the article? Choose the best answer.
a) Pyramids are only in Egypt.
b) Workers are building a new pyramid today.
c) Pyramids still have secrets, and scientists are trying to solve them.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
Read the sentences. Circle T (true) or F (false).
1. The Great Pyramid is in Egypt. T/F
2. The empty space inside the pyramid is very small. T/F
3. Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
Number the events 1 to 3 in the order they appear in the story.
___ a) Scientists are finding hidden pyramids in jungles.
___ b) There is a big empty space inside the pyramid.
___ c) Workers push heavy stones up long ramps.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. pyramid
2. heavy
3. ramp
4. secret
5. jungle
a) a big, hot forest with lots of trees
b) something people do not know yet
c) a big building with a pointy top
d) a slope that goes up to a higher place
e) hard to lift or carry
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
Choose the best word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. I think the workers are very ______ because the stones are heavy.
a) sleepy
b) strong
c) small
2. I want to see the pyramids in ______.
a) the sea
b) the moon
c) Sudan
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
Put the parts in the correct order to make a sentence.
1. A) are / B) heavy. / C) The / D) very / E) stones
2. A) for / B) Scientists / C) secrets. / D) are / E) looking
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up
b) A secret space inside a pyramid
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
(1) secrets
(2) heavy
(3) ramps
(4) jungles
Section 2: Main Idea
c) Pyramids still have secrets, and scientists are trying to solve them.
Section 3: True or False
1. T
2. F (It is about 30 metres long.)
3. T
Section 4: Put Events in Order
1. b) There is a big empty space inside the pyramid.
2. c) Workers push heavy stones up long ramps.
3. a) Scientists are finding hidden pyramids in jungles.
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. pyramid – c) a big building with a pointy top
2. heavy – e) hard to lift or carry
3. ramp – d) a slope that goes up to a higher place
4. secret – b) something people do not know yet
5. jungle – a) a big, hot forest with lots of trees
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. b) strong
2. c) Sudan
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. C – E – A – D – B: The stones are very heavy.
2. B – D – E – A – C: Scientists are looking for secrets.
Section 8: Discussion Questions
Answers will vary. Encourage full sentences, e.g. I think the space is empty because nobody can go inside.
Thank you for your feedback!