CONSTRUCTION The actual construction of the pyramids has baffled historians for years. Each stone weighed approximately 2.5 tons. The Great Pyramid weighed approximately 5,750,000 tons. A draft horse can pull four tons on its own and approximately twelve tons when working with another horse. For a more modern comparison, a pickup truck can pull about eight tons on its own.

But the ancient Egyptians didn’t use horses, and they certainly didn’t have pickup trucks.

How did the ancient Egyptians haul over five million tons up hundreds of feet?

Perhaps they used systems of ramps, ropes, and plain, old-fashioned elbow grease, much like the systems they used to remove stones from their quarries. Maybe they used ramps that went straight up the sides or ramps that curved around the walls. There is no consensus. The real method remains a mystery.

According to Kara Cooney, a professor of Egyptian art and architecture, this is exactly what the ancient Egyptians wanted. It increases the sense of awe and wonder, proving the amazing power of the rulers who built them.

Which example from the text develops the idea that the Egyptians understood the importance of taking care of their workers?

A)"Undertaking such a massive colossal task required a huge workforce."

B)"Tens of thousands of workers required enormous resources, such as a place to live during the construction."

C)"This led the researchers to believe that it was likely the workers ate better on the job than they did back at home."

D)"…the workers usually slept in simple conditions around the construction site."