Vocabulary
Gold Rush Comprehension
Comprehension Skills
Gold Rush Facts
100
Eric gets angry when Matt dares him to press the button on the computer. Another word for angry is ______.
annoyed
100
Eric’s parents want him to learn more about the Gold Rush because __________________.
It is part of their family history.
100
Provide one example of a cause and effect relationship in the story.
Many answers.
100
The forty-niners arrived in California in what year?
1849
200
The bright gold dust sparkled in the light, meaning the dust ____________.
Glinted
200
What happens after the earthquake? ○ A. The boys fall into the river and Mr. Wong saves them. ○ B. Eric falls into the river and Matt saves him. ○ C. Mr. Wong falls into the river and the boys save him. ○ D. Matt falls into the river and Eric saves him.
C. Mr. Wong falls into the river and the boys save him
200
What is the main idea of The Gold Rush Game?
That finding out about your family's history is important.
200
Who was the first person to find gold in California? a. Thurgood Marshall b. John Marshall c. James Marshall d. Mr. Scheuermann
C. James Marshall
300
DAILY DOUBLE! Eric’s dad finds a mention in a source of information to an 1849 land claim filed by his ancestor. A mention in a source of information could be shortened to a ________.
Reference
300
The reader knows this story is science fiction because it _______________. ○ A. is about science ○ B. allows characters to go back in time ○ C. is about two kids who play a science game ○ D. allows characters to go forward into the future
B. allows characters to go back in time
300
On page 672, summarize the information that the prospector tells Eric and Matt.
In 1849, men traveled long distances to come to California to prospect for gold. Men live in camps, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.
300
What is a boomtown?
A town that sprouted up quickly because people came looking for gold.
400
What does the suffix or/er mean? So, what is the meaning of the word director?
It means one who... Director means one who directs.
400
How would you describe Eric’s character development through the course of this story? ○ A. At first he is interested in his family history, but then he gets bored. ○ B. He is very silly and then gets serious. ○ C. He is disobedient and then obedient. ○ D. At first he is not interested in his family history, but then he is excited by it.
D. At first he is not interested in his family history, but then he is excited by it.
400
Character Analysis: In this story, which do you think Eric would find more valuable as a reward, some gold or the ivory chop?
The ivory chop because it is an important piece of his family's history.
400
What is a ghost town?
A town that was almost completely empty because people had left it in search of gold.
500
Compare and contrast pre-fixes and suffixes. Provide one similarity and one difference.
Possible answer: They are both additions to a root word. A pre-fix is attached to the beginning of a word and a suffix to the end of a word.
500
How might the boys appear out of place to the prospector?
The clothes they are wearing are not typical of someone who would be mining for gold all day.
500
Compare and Contrast: How is Larry's experience similar to that of the prospectors in The Gold Rush Game? How is it different? Provide one example of each.
Many answers.
500
Based on what you know about the gold rush, why do you think California became a state in 1850.
The population had risen very quickly due to the gold rush.
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