R.1.1 Character, Setting, & Plot
How does the Alaskan environment influence the miners’ behavior in the story?
A. It makes them generous and carefree
B. It forces them to work harder and follow strict laws
C. It encourages them to give up quickly
D. It has little effect on their lives
B. It forces them to work harder and follow strict laws
What is one major theme in “A Woman Who Went to Alaska”?
A. Fairness and kindness always prevail
B. Hardship and injustice can reveal human strength
C. Power brings peace and prosperity
D. The wilderness rewards everyone equally
B. Hardship and injustice can reveal human strength
Who tells the story?
A. A Canadian official
B. A government recorder
C. Mary Kellogg Sullivan, the narrator
D. A miner’s wife
C. Mary Kellogg Sullivan, the narrator
Which is an example of figurative language or exaggeration?
A. “He requested the Governor be sent for before dying.”
B. “If I should undertake to die without a permit, I should get myself arrested.”
C. “It was unlawful to sell a stick of wood.”
D. “Gold was discovered in 1896.”
B. “If I should undertake to die without a permit, I should get myself arrested.”
The root spect means “to look.” What does prospect mean?
A. To hide something
B. To look for or explore
C. To pay a fee
D. To give up
B. To look for or explore
What specific rule makes it difficult for miners to claim gold fairly?
A. The ban on using gold pans
B. The requirement for multiple miners per claim
C. The law requiring a costly license and inspection
D. The rule allowing free mining for all
C. The law requiring a costly license and inspection
How does greed influence the miners’ actions?
A. It makes them share their gold with others
B. It drives them to risk everything for riches
C. It causes them to leave Alaska early
D. It inspires them to follow all government rules
B. It drives them to risk everything for riches
What is Sullivan’s attitude toward the government?
A. She finds it fair and reasonable
B. She feels it is harsh and unfair
C. She believes it helps the miners succeed
D. She respects its strict order
B. She feels it is harsh and unfair
What might the “permit” symbolize?
A. Freedom and opportunity
B. Control and government power
C. Wealth and greed
D. Safety and order
B. Control and government power
What does the prefix con- in concealment suggest?
A. Together or with
B. Above or over
C. Against
D. Not or opposite
A. Together or with
How does the setting contribute to the conflict in the story?
A. The extreme cold and unfair laws create hardship and frustration
B. The peaceful landscape helps miners relax and cooperate
C. The mild weather makes gold mining easy
D. The setting is unimportant to the plot
A. The extreme cold and unfair laws create hardship and frustration
What lesson about fairness or power does Sullivan reveal?
A. Authority is always right
B. Laws are fair if they protect the wealthy
C. Unchecked power leads to corruption and injustice
D. People should never question the government
C. Unchecked power leads to corruption and injustice
How does the first-person point of view affect the reader’s understanding?
A. It provides a personal, emotional view of the miners’ struggles
B. It limits the story to government perspectives
C. It removes any opinion or emotion
D. It makes the narrator unreliable
A. It provides a personal, emotional view of the miners’ struggles
How does Sullivan use humor to emphasize her point?
A. She jokes about dying needing a permit to show how absurd the laws are
B. She tells funny stories about gold
C. She mocks the miners for complaining
D. She exaggerates the size of gold nuggets
A. She jokes about dying needing a permit to show how absurd the laws are
The root cert means “sure.” What does ascertain mean?
A. To guess
B. To find out for sure
C. To lie about something
D. To forget easily
B. To find out for sure
How would the story change if it took place in a region with fewer government restrictions?
A. Miners would still struggle with the same problems
B. There would be less conflict and frustration
C. The narrator would still complain about the climate
D. The setting would have no effect on the outcome
B. There would be less conflict and frustration
How does the author develop the theme of survival amid corruption?
A. By describing the miners’ wealth
B. By showing miners adapting to unfair rules and harsh weather
C. By praising the government’s strict laws
D. By focusing only on natural scenery
B. By showing miners adapting to unfair rules and harsh weather
How might the story feel different if told by a government official?
A. It would sound more critical of the miners
B. It would show sympathy for the miners’ hardships
C. It would likely justify the strict laws and taxes
D. It would include more personal stories
C. It would likely justify the strict laws and taxes
What does gold symbolize in the story?
A. Wealth and greed
B. Friendship and loyalty
C. Hope and kindness
D. Law and justice
A. Wealth and greed
The suffix -ary means “related to.” What does arbitrary mean?
A. Related to reason
B. Related to fairness
C. Related to random choice
D. Related to teamwork
C. Related to random choice
Part A: Which statement best describes how the Alaskan setting shapes Sullivan’s perspective?
A. She admires the freedom of the frontier
B. She feels frustrated by the harsh conditions and unfair laws
C. She feels proud of the government’s strict rules
D. She is indifferent to her surroundings
Part B: Which detail best supports the answer in Part A?
A. “The Dominion government is very oppressive.”
B. “Gold was discovered by George Carmack on Bonanza Creek.”
C. “It is unlawful to sell a stick of wood for any purpose.”
D. “Men are sent to examine the locality.”
Part A: B. She feels frustrated by the harsh conditions and unfair laws
Part B: A. “The Dominion government is very oppressive.”
Part A: What message does Sullivan most likely want readers to take away?
A. Greed leads to happiness
B. Hardship exposes the strength of ordinary people
C. Laws always protect the miners
D. The government rewards honest work
Part B: Which detail supports this theme?
A. “Officials seize it, and the man has no way of ascertaining if the land was properly located.”
B. “Gold was discovered by George Carmack.”
C. “The miners are treated fairly.”
D. “Everyone prospers equally.”
Part A: B. Hardship exposes the strength of ordinary people
Part B: A. “Officials seize it, and the man has no way of ascertaining if the land was properly located.”
Part A: What emotion best describes Sullivan’s tone when describing the mining laws?
A. Amusement
B. Frustration
C. Pride
D. Indifference
Part B: Which line best shows that tone?
A. “The Canadian Dominion government is very oppressive.”
B. “Gold was discovered by George Carmack in 1896.”
C. “A person wishing to prospect must pay ten dollars for a license.”
D. “Men are sent to examine the locality.”
Part A: B. Frustration
Part B: A. “The Canadian Dominion government is very oppressive.”
Part A: How does figurative language help reveal the theme of injustice?
A. It creates humor that shows how unfair the laws are
B. It makes the story confusing
C. It hides the narrator’s opinions
D. It celebrates strict enforcement
Part B: Which quote best supports that answer?
A. “The miners paid ten dollars for a license.”
B. “Half of the land is reserved for the crown.”
C. “If I should undertake to die without a permit, I should get myself arrested.”
D. “Men are sent to examine the locality.”
Part A: A. It creates humor that shows how unfair the laws are
Part B: C. “If I should undertake to die without a permit, I should get myself arrested.”
Which word’s root most helps you figure out its meaning?
A. Prospect
B. Arbitrary
C. Concealment
D. Ascertain
D. Ascertain
The root cert means “sure,” showing that to ascertain means to find out with certainty.