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English Help 1) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The Pony Express was the first rapid transit and the first fast mail line across the continent from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. It was a system by means of which messages were
carried swiftly on horseback across the plains and deserts, and over the mountains of the far
West. It brought the Atlantic coast and the Pacific slope ten days nearer to each other.
It had a brief existence of only sixteen months and was supplanted by the transcontinental
telegraph. Yet it was of the greatest importance in binding the East and West together at a time
when overland travel was slow and cumbersome, and when a great national crisis made the
rapid communication of news between these sections an imperative necessity.
The Pony Express marked the highest development in overland travel prior to the coming of the
Pacific railroad, which it preceded nine years. It, in fact, proved the feasibility of a
transcontinental road and demonstrated that such a line could be built and operated
continuously the year around—a feat that had always been regarded as impossible.
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should
be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish
something worthwhile. Its history should be an enduring tribute to American courage and
American organizing genius.
Which line from the description of the Pony Express best explains the idea of "rapid transit"? (5
points)
It was a system by means of which messages were carried...
It brought the Atlantic coast and the Pacific slope ten days nearer to each other.
The Pony Express marked the highest development in overland travel... It, in fact, proved the feasibility of a transcontinental road... 2) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The fall of Fort Sumter in April, 1861, did not produce the Civil War crisis. For many months, the
gigantic struggle then imminent had been painfully discernible to far-seeing men. In 1858,
Lincoln had forewarned the country in his "House Divided" speech. As early as the beginning of
the year 1860 the Union had been plainly in jeopardy. Early in February of that momentous year,
Jefferson Davis, on behalf of the South, had introduced his famous resolutions in the Senate of
the United States. This document was the ultimatum of the dissatisfied slave-holding
commonwealths. It demanded that Congress should protect slavery throughout the domain of
the United States. The territories, it declared, were the common property of the states of the
Union and hence open to the citizens of all states with all their personal possessions. The
Northern states, furthermore, were no longer to interfere with the working of the Fugitive Slave
Act. They must repeal their Personal Liberty laws and respect the Dred Scott Decision of the
Federal Supreme Court. Neither in their own legislatures nor in Congress should they trespass
upon the right of the South to regulate slavery as it best saw fit.
These resolutions, demanding in effect that slavery be thus safeguarded—almost to the extent
of introducing it into the free states—really foreshadowed the Democratic platform of 1860
which led to the great split in that party, the victory of the Republicans under Lincoln, the
subsequent secession of the more radical southern states, and finally the Civil War, for it was
inevitable that the North, when once aroused, would bitterly resent such pro-slavery demands.
And this great crisis was only the bursting into flame of many smaller fires that had long been
smoldering. For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the
seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two
inherently distinct portions of the country.
Reread these lines from the Chapter 1 excerpt and answer the question that follows:
And this great crisis was only the bursting into flame of many smaller fires that had long been
smoldering. For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the
seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two
inherently distinct portions of the country.
Which of the following best summarizes the main message of these lines? (5 points)
The two sides of the country were irreconcilably different. The two sides of the country should never have been together.
The great crisis was caused by Mason and Dixon's division.
The great crisis was the result of long-building tensions. 3) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The Pony Express was the first rapid transit and the first fast mail line across the continent from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. It was a system by means of which messages were
carried swiftly on horseback across the plains and deserts, and over the mountains of the far
West. It brought the Atlantic coast and the Pacific slope ten days nearer to each other.
It had a brief existence of only sixteen months and was supplanted by the transcontinental
telegraph. Yet it was of the greatest importance in binding the East and West together at a time
when overland travel was slow and cumbersome, and when a great national crisis made the
rapid communication of news between these sections an imperative necessity.
The Pony Express marked the highest development in overland travel prior to the coming of the
Pacific railroad, which it preceded nine years. It, in fact, proved the feasibility of a
transcontinental road and demonstrated that such a line could be built and operated
continuously the year around—a feat that had always been regarded as impossible.
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should
be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish
something worthwhile. Its history should be an enduring tribute to American courage and
American organizing genius.
Which words from the text suggest the importance of the Pony Express? (5 points)
Highest development, supreme achievement
Brief existence, great national crisis
Imperative necessity, operated continuously
Physical endurance, physical sacrifice 4) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The Pony Express was the first rapid transit and the first fast mail line across the continent from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. It was a system by means of which messages were
carried swiftly on horseback across the plains and deserts, and over the mountains of the far
West. It brought the Atlantic coast and the Pacific slope ten days nearer to each other.
It had a brief existence of only sixteen months and was supplanted by the transcontinental
telegraph. Yet it was of the greatest importance in binding the East and West together at a time
when overland travel was slow and cumbersome, and when a great national crisis made the
rapid communication of news between these sections an imperative necessity.
The Pony Express marked the highest development in overland travel prior to the coming of the
Pacific railroad, which it preceded nine years. It, in fact, proved the feasibility of a
transcontinental road and demonstrated that such a line could be built and operated
continuously the year around—a feat that had always been regarded as impossible.
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should
be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish
something worthwhile. Its history should be an enduring tribute to American courage and
American organizing genius.
Which phrase from the fourth paragraph best expresses its main point? (5 points)
A supreme achievement of physical endurance
Man and his ever faithful companion, the horse
The physical sacrifice of man and beast
Its history should be an enduring tribute
5) Reread these two excerpts from "The Pony Express" Chapter 1 and answer the question that
follows:
The Pacific Coast was of the deepest concern to the Union. Situated at a distance of nearly two
thousand miles from the Missouri River which was then the nation's western frontier, this intervening space comprised trackless plains, almost impenetrable ranges of snow-capped
mountains, and parched alkali deserts.
and
California, even then, was the jewel of the Pacific. Having a considerable population, great
natural wealth, and unsurpassed climate and fertility, she was jealously desired by both the
North and the South.
These two excerpts focus mainly on (5 points)
the physical characteristics of California
the North's plans to defeat the South in California
the reasons why California was ignored by the North and the South
the effects of war on the resources in California 6) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The fall of Fort Sumter in April, 1861, did not produce the Civil War crisis. For many months, the
gigantic struggle then imminent had been painfully discernible to far-seeing men. In 1858,
Lincoln had forewarned the country in his "House Divided" speech. As early as the beginning of
the year 1860 the Union had been plainly in jeopardy. Early in February of that momentous year,
Jefferson Davis, on behalf of the South, had introduced his famous resolutions in the Senate of
the United States. This document was the ultimatum of the dissatisfied slave-holding
commonwealths. It demanded that Congress should protect slavery throughout the domain of
the United States. The territories, it declared, were the common property of the states of the
Union and hence open to the citizens of all states with all their personal possessions. The
Northern states, furthermore, were no longer to interfere with the working of the Fugitive Slave
Act. They must repeal their Personal Liberty laws and respect the Dred Scott Decision of the
Federal Supreme Court. Neither in their own legislatures nor in Congress should they trespass
upon the right of the South to regulate slavery as it best saw fit.
These resolutions, demanding in effect that slavery be thus safeguarded—almost to the extent
of introducing it into the free states—really foreshadowed the Democratic platform of 1860
which led to the great split in that party, the victory of the Republicans under Lincoln, the subsequent secession of the more radical southern states, and finally the Civil War, for it was
inevitable that the North, when once aroused, would bitterly resent such pro-slavery demands.
And this great crisis was only the bursting into flame of many smaller fires that had long been
smoldering. For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the
seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two
inherently distinct portions of the country.
Read this sentence from the text:
For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the seventeenth
century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two inherently
distinct portions of the country.
What is the main purpose of this section of text? (5 points)
To detail the sections that will follow.
To explain the period of time before the war.
To restate the main idea of this section.
To summarize the many causes of the war. 7) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The Pony Express was the first rapid transit and the first fast mail line across the continent from
the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. It was a system by means of which messages were
carried swiftly on horseback across the plains and deserts, and over the mountains of the far
West. It brought the Atlantic coast and the Pacific slope ten days nearer to each other.
It had a brief existence of only sixteen months and was supplanted by the transcontinental
telegraph. Yet it was of the greatest importance in binding the East and West together at a time
when overland travel was slow and cumbersome, and when a great national crisis made the
rapid communication of news between these sections an imperative necessity.
The Pony Express marked the highest development in overland travel prior to the coming of the
Pacific railroad, which it preceded nine years. It, in fact, proved the feasibility of a transcontinental road and demonstrated that such a line could be built and operated
continuously the year around—a feat that had always been regarded as impossible.
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should
be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish
something worthwhile. Its history should be an enduring tribute to American courage and
American organizing genius.
Read this line from the Pony Express excerpt:
It had a brief existence of only sixteen months and was supplanted by the transcontinental
telegraph.
Based on the context, what does the word "supplanted" mean? (5 points)
Defeated
Joined
Replaced
Unearthed 8) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The fall of Fort Sumter in April, 1861, did not produce the Civil War crisis. For many months, the
gigantic struggle then imminent had been painfully discernible to far-seeing men. In 1858,
Lincoln had forewarned the country in his "House Divided" speech. As early as the beginning of
the year 1860 the Union had been plainly in jeopardy. Early in February of that momentous year,
Jefferson Davis, on behalf of the South, had introduced his famous resolutions in the Senate of
the United States. This document was the ultimatum of the dissatisfied slave-holding
commonwealths. It demanded that Congress should protect slavery throughout the domain of
the United States. The territories, it declared, were the common property of the states of the
Union and hence open to the citizens of all states with all their personal possessions. The
Northern states, furthermore, were no longer to interfere with the working of the Fugitive Slave
Act. They must repeal their Personal Liberty laws and respect the Dred Scott Decision of the
Federal Supreme Court. Neither in their own legislatures nor in Congress should they trespass
upon the right of the South to regulate slavery as it best saw fit. These resolutions, demanding in effect that slavery be thus safeguarded—almost to the extent
of introducing it into the free states—really foreshadowed the Democratic platform of 1860
which led to the great split in that party, the victory of the Republicans under Lincoln, the
subsequent secession of the more radical southern states, and finally the Civil War, for it was
inevitable that the North, when once aroused, would bitterly resent such pro-slavery demands.
And this great crisis was only the bursting into flame of many smaller fires that had long been
smoldering. For generations the two sections had been drifting apart. Since the middle of the
seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real division separating two
inherently distinct portions of the country.
Read this line from the Pony Express excerpt:
Since the middle of the seventeenth century, Mason and Dixon's line had been a line of real
division separating two inherently distinct portions of the country.
What does the phrase "inherently distinct" mean? (5 points)
Inadequately similar
Fundamentally wrong
Essentially different
Unnaturally agreeable
9) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should
be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish
something worthwhile. Its history should be an enduring tribute to American courage and
American organizing genius.
The description provided in this excerpt from "The Pony Express" chapter one tells readers the
Pony Express route was (5 points)
difficult for both the horse and rider difficult for the horse, but easy for the rider
easy for the horse, but difficult for the rider
easy for both the horse and the rider
10) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis
The Pony Express marked the highest development in overland travel prior to the coming of the
Pacific railroad, which it preceded nine years. It, in fact, proved the feasibility of a
transcontinental road and demonstrated that such a line could be built and operated
continuously the year around—a feat that had always been regarded as impossible.
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse. The history of this organization should
be a lasting monument to the physical sacrifice of man and beast in an effort to accomplish
something worthwhile. Its history should be an enduring tribute to American courage and
American organizing genius.
Read this sentence from the text:
The operation of the Pony Express was a supreme achievement of physical endurance on the
part of man and his ever faithful companion, the horse.
Based on this description, which word would the author most likely use to describe the horse?
(5 points)
Gentle
Wild
Confused
Strong
11) The Pony Express
Chapter I
At A Nation's Crisis The fall of Fort Sumter in April, 1861, did not produce the Civil War crisis. For many months, the
gigantic struggle then imminent had been painfully discernible to far-seeing men. In 1858,
Lincoln had forewarned the country in his "House Divided" speech. As early as the beginning of
the year 1860 the Union had been plainly in jeopardy. Early in February of that momentous year,
Jefferson Davis, on behalf of the South, had introduced his famous resolutions in the Senate of
the United States. This document was the ultimatum of the dissatisfied slave-holding
commonwealths. It demanded that Congress should protect slavery throughout the domain of
the United States. The territories, it declared, were the common property of the states of the
Union and hence open to the citizens of all states with all their personal possessions. The
Northern states, furthermore, were no longer to interfere with the working of the Fugitive Slave
Act. They must repeal their Personal Liberty laws and respect the Dred Scott Decision of the
Federal Supreme Court. Neither in their own legislatures nor in Congress should they trespass
upon the right of the South to regulate slavery as it best saw fit.
Read this sentence from the text:
For many months, the gigantic struggle then imminent had been painfully discernible to farseeing men.
Which of these statements is true based on the information provided? (5 points)
The war could not have been predicted.
The coming war was obvious to some people.
The struggle went on for many months.
Watching the conflict was quite painful. 12) Read the sentence below and answer the following question:
The council meeting ran out of time, and members were unable to discuss procedures for having
shorter meetings.
This sentence is an example of which of the following? (5 points)
Irony
Understatement Sarcasm
Satire 13) Read the sentence below and answer the following question:
If that was just a quiz, then the six chapters of European history it covered were just postcards
from someone's summer vacation.
Which answer best identifies the figurative language used in this sentence? (5 points)
It uses sarcasm to explain how hard the quiz was.
It uses understatement to explain how easy the quiz was.
It uses analogy to describe the subject matter of the quiz.
It uses imagery to imply the quiz was too long. 14) Read this sentence and answer the question below:
Jay Gatsby's tricked-out lifestyle comes at a terrible cost; he loses his principles, Daisy, and then
his life.
What word, if substituted for tricked-out, would best elevate the sentence to a formal tone? (5
points)
Extravagant
Gangster
Flashy
Showy
15) Read the sentence and answer the following question: I learned things during your talk yesterday that I will be using in my upcoming research project.
Which word should be replaced with something more precise? (5 points)
Things
Upcoming
Research
Project 16) Read the sentence and answer the following question:
I'm all about using the latest social media to further the goals of scientific inquiry.
Which change would make this sentence more precise? (5 points)
Change all about to interested in.
Change latest to most recent.
Change further to meet.
Change scientific inquiry to science. 17) Which of the following is appropriate for a formal audience? (5 points)
After reviewing the details, I can say you are solid.
I have reviewed the documents' details, and you are protected.
Listen, I got your back, so don't worry about it.
You are totally good because this is not a big problem. 18) Which of the following would benefit most from an informational graphic? (5 points)
A comparison of fishing season catch rates over ten years
A catalog of the types of fishes caught during a season
A count of the number of fish caught at one location
A list of the peak fishing season totals for the last year
19) The House of the Seven Gables, an excerpt
By Nathaniel Hawthorne
Thus the great house was built. Familiar as it stands in the writer's recollection,—for it has been
an object of curiosity with him from boyhood, both as a specimen of the best and stateliest
architecture of a longpast epoch, and as the scene of events more full of human interest,
perhaps, than those of a gray feudal castle,—familiar as it stands, in its rusty old age, it is
therefore only the more difficult to imagine the bright novelty with which it first caught the
sunshine.
What does the author suggest is difficult to imagine about the house? (5 points)
Its inhabitants from long ago
Its long gone occupants and visitors
The nature of how it has aged
The way it looked when it was new 20) Federalist No. 3
The Same Subject Continued: Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence
For the Independent Journal.
Author: John Jay
To the People of the State of New York:
IT IS not a new observation that the people of any country (if, like the Americans, intelligent and
well informed) seldom adopt and steadily persevere for many years in an erroneous opinion
respecting their interests. That consideration naturally tends to create great respect for the high opinion which the people of America have so long and uniformly entertained of the importance
of their continuing firmly united under one federal government, vested with sufficient powers for
all general and national purposes.
Based on this excerpt, John Jay thinks Americans are (5 points)
failing to earn the respect from other countries
trying to copy the governments of other countries
proud of the government they created
prepared for war with other countries
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