Read the passage about ancient Egyptians and cats carefully and then answer the question: “Hordes of rats invaded Egypt. They came from _____.” Choose the most appropriate option.

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question is based on a passage describing how ancient Egyptians valued cats, especially for their ability to control rodents. The passage explains how rats invaded Egypt and how cats replaced other animals as rodent killers. The question checks whether the reader can recall a specific factual detail: the region from which these rats came. Such detail oriented questions test careful reading and memory of key points.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage describes the arrival of hordes of rats in Egypt.
• It clearly states the origin of these rats.
• We must choose between Europe, Asia, Asia Minor, and Africa.
• No external knowledge is required; the answer is directly in the text.

Concept / Approach:
For factual detail questions, the correct strategy is to locate the relevant sentence in the passage mentally and recall the exact phrase used by the author. The question repeats part of that sentence: “Hordes of rats invaded Egypt.” The next words in the passage mention the region from which they came. Instead of guessing from general historical information, the reader should rely on the given text, because the exam tests comprehension rather than world history here.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the portion of the passage that talks about the rats. It mentions that grass snakes and weasels were earlier kept in houses but could not handle the rat invasion. Step 2: Immediately after this, the passage says that hordes of rats invaded Egypt “from Asia”. Step 3: Match this with the answer choices. Option B states “Asia”, which is identical to the location mentioned in the passage. Step 4: Quickly check the other options. Europe, Asia Minor, and Africa are all different regions and were not mentioned as the origin of the rats. Step 5: Confirm that there is no trick or indirect phrasing; the passage is direct and unambiguous on this point.

Verification / Alternative check:
One may be tempted to think of ancient trade routes or neighbouring regions, but the question is not asking for historical analysis. It simply asks what the passage itself says. Re reading the relevant line in the mental picture confirms that only “Asia” appears there. This is a straightforward recall task, and cross checking with the options shows that exactly one alternative matches the text word for word.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: “Europe” is incorrect because the passage does not mention Europe regarding the rats. Option C: “Asia Minor” is a more specific region but again not the term used in the passage. Option D: “Africa” is the continent that includes Egypt, but the question is asking from where the rats invaded, and the passage says they came from elsewhere.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake in such questions is relying on assumptions or outside knowledge instead of the passage. Some students may also mix up “Asia” and “Asia Minor” because they sound similar. The safest strategy is always to mentally revisit the exact wording used in the text and pick an answer that matches it precisely. Highlighting or underlining factual details during reading can help in longer passages.

Final Answer:
According to the passage, the rats that invaded Egypt came from Asia. Therefore, the correct option is Asia.