In this reading comprehension question on ancient Egypt, choose the correct answer to: "The cat was considered to be a _____."

Introduction / Context:
The passage explains how ancient Egyptians viewed cats, describing their practical value and religious status. To answer this question, you must identify exactly how cats were ranked or classified in Egyptian culture according to the passage. The question asks: "The cat was considered to be a _____." This is a detail-based question that can be answered by locating and interpreting a specific sentence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage states that cats were very useful in controlling rodents.
• It then says that "the cat, a very useful animal, was ranked as a sacred animal and one of the most important animals, too."
• Options include sacred animal, goddess, symbol of peace and symbol of fertility.
• We must pick the option that matches the passage wording accurately.

Concept / Approach:
Good comprehension requires distinguishing between what the passage says directly and what it says about related figures. In the text, the goddess Bast is associated with cats and is portrayed as a woman with a cat's head, but the cat itself is not a goddess. The passage explicitly uses the phrase "sacred animal" for the cat. It does not refer to cats as symbols of peace or fertility, even though Bast is linked to fertility. Therefore, the answer must be taken from the sentence that directly classifies the cat.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Find the line in the passage describing the cat's status: "So the cat, a very useful animal, was ranked as a sacred animal and one of the most important animals, too."Step 2: Note the phrase "ranked as a sacred animal," which clearly describes how Egyptians considered cats.Step 3: Compare this with option A "sacred animal," which matches exactly.Step 4: Examine option B "goddess," noting that the passage reserves this term for Bast, not for every cat.Step 5: Examine options C and D, "symbol of peace" and "symbol of fertility," which are not phrases used for the cat in the text.Step 6: Conclude that "sacred animal" is the correct answer because it accurately reflects the passage.

Verification / Alternative Check:
If you reread the section about Bast, you will see that she is described as the goddess of the Moon, fertility and childbirth and portrayed as a woman with a cat's head. This indicates that the goddess is associated with cats, but the cat itself remains a sacred animal. At no point does the passage call the cat a goddess or a symbol of peace. It also does not label the cat as a symbol of fertility, despite the goddess's role. This confirms that only "sacred animal" directly matches the description.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, goddess, confuses the status of Bast with the status of ordinary cats. Bast is the goddess; cats are her sacred animals. Options C and D introduce concepts such as peace and fertility as symbols of the cat, which the passage never mentions. These choices are likely included to test whether you read the passage closely or only grab keywords like "fertility." Since the question is about how the cat was considered, we must stick to the exact wording "sacred animal."

Common Pitfalls:
One common error is confusing associated ideas with explicit statements. Because the goddess linked to cats has fertility in her domain, some readers assume that the cat must be a symbol of fertility. Another trap is to overgeneralise and say that the cat is a goddess. To avoid such mistakes, always ask whether the phrase you choose actually appears in the passage or is clearly paraphrasing a specific sentence. This habit will greatly improve your accuracy in comprehension questions.

Final Answer:
According to the passage, the cat was considered to be a sacred animal.