A desperate Trek Across America
Why was the journey across America called “desperate”?
A. The group wanted to find treasure quickly
B. The men were lost, starving, and trying to survive
C. They were running from the law
D. The weather was too hot for travel
B. The men were lost, starving, and trying to survive
Where does most of the poem take place, and how does it feel?
A. A quiet mountain, peaceful and calm
B. A city full of music, memory, and emotion
C. A desert town, lonely and empty
D. A school, full of loud students
B. A city full of music, memory, and emotion
In the story Balboa, what important thing does Balboa find that makes him famous?
A. A big gold mine
B. A hidden city
C. The Pacific Ocean
D. A new island
c. The Pacific Ocean
According to the story, what important event happens when the woman falls from the Sky World?
A. The Earth is created on the turtle’s back
B. A great flood destroys the land
C. The sky turns dark forever
D. Animals fly up to catch the sun
A. The Earth is created on the turtle’s back
This part of an essay usually grabs the reader’s attention and presents the thesis.
A) Conclusion
B) Introduction
C) Body paragraph
D) Transition sentence
B) Introduction
Which of the following men became a key leader during the journey?
A. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
B. Christopher Columbus
C. Hernán Cortés
D. Francisco Pizarro
A. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
How does the speaker feel about New Orleans?
A. She hates how loud and busy it is
B. She is scared of the city’s history
C. She feels connected to its music and spirit
D. She is bored and wants to leave
C. She feels connected to its music and spirit
How is Balboa shown as different from the other Spanish men in the story?
A. He is kind and shares everything
B. He is quiet and scared
C. He is smart and knows how to take power
D. He wants peace with everyone
C. He is smart and knows how to take power
What does the story teach about the Iroquois’ beliefs?
A. They believed humans were the only powerful beings
B. They thought animals were not important
C. They believed in a balance between good and evil forces
D. They thought the world was flat and unchanging
C. They believed in a balance between good and evil forces
Which of the following best describes a strong thesis statement?
A) A broad opinion with no clear focus
B) A specific claim that can be supported with evidence
C) A question that guides the reader
D) A quotation from another author
B) A specific claim that can be supported with evidence
How did the explorers survive while traveling through Native American lands?
A. They stole food from every village
B. They hunted alone and avoided contact
C. They learned from Native peoples and traded with them
D. They brought enough supplies from Spain
C. They learned from Native peoples and traded with them
Music plays an important role in the poem. What does music most likely represent?
A. Just a background sound
B. A fun activity with no deeper meaning
C. A connection to the past and cultural identity
D. Something that blocks out noise
C. A connection to the past and cultural identity
How does Balboa’s treatment of the native people show a deeper idea in the story?
A. That hard work always pays off
B. That people can live together peacefully
C. That power and violence often go together
D. That explorers should ask for help
C. That power and violence often go together
What do the right-handed and left-handed twins mainly represent?
A. Luck and skill
B. Day and night
C. Balance and conflict between opposite forces
D. Mind and body
C. Balance and conflict between opposite forces
What is the main purpose of a body paragraph in an essay?
A) To introduce the thesis
B) To provide evidence and explain a key point
C) To grab the reader’s attention
D) To restate the conclusion
B) To provide evidence and explain a key point
What major change happened to the explorers’ view of Native Americans?
A. They began to see Native Americans as equals and friends
B. They stopped thinking about them completely
C. They became more violent toward them
D. They tried to convert them all at once
A. They began to see Native Americans as equals and friends
What does the speaker mean when she says, "There are some songs that take you back to yourself"?
A. Songs help you remember who you are
B. Some songs are too slow to dance to
C. Songs can help you sleep
D. Some songs remind you of school
A. Songs help you remember who you are
The story moves between things that happened in the past and things happening now. What is this called?
A. A journal
B. A flashback
C. A letter
D. A speech
B. A flashback
Why does the left-handed twin go against his brother and grandmother?
A. He wants to leave the Earth and live in the sky
B. He represents a different kind of thinking and choice
C. He is weaker and afraid of animals
D. He is confused about what to do
B. He represents a different kind of thinking and choice
When writing about key points in a body paragraph, what should each one always include?
A) A clear topic sentence and supporting evidence
B) A new thesis statement
C) A quotation with no explanation
D) A summary of the entire essay
A) A clear topic sentence and supporting evidence
hy did the author most likely write A Desperate Trek Across America?
A. To entertain readers with a fantasy story
B. To make fun of early explorers
C. To describe a little-known story of survival and cultural exchange
D. To argue that exploring was a waste of time
C. To describe a little-known story of survival and cultural exchange
What is one of the main themes in Harjo’s “New Orleans”?
A. Forgetting the past is the best way to heal
B. Music and memory help keep culture alive
C. Cities are all the same
D. The future is more important than tradition
B. Music and memory help keep culture alive
Why is it important that the story lets us see inside Balboa’s mind?
A. So we feel sorry for him
B. So we understand he’s not just a hero or villain
C. So we think he is always right
D. So we don’t get bored
B. So we understand he’s not just a hero or villain
Why is “The World on the Turtle’s Back” an important story?
A. It explains how turtles became extinct
B. It warns people not to trust their families
C. It shares the Iroquois view of how the world began and how balance is needed
D. It is only meant to be a funny folktale
C. It shares the Iroquois view of how the world began and how balance is needed
Which sentence starter would be MOST effective for beginning a new body paragraph?
A) “In conclusion, this proves my thesis.”
B) “Another important reason is…”
C) “I think this is true because…”
D) “Once upon a time…”
B) “Another important reason is…”