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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many people were in the group when it was at its full strength?
(a) 63
(b) 142
(c) 41
(d) 87

2. What did the travelers encounter as they climbed the Sierra Nevada?
(a) New friendships with the Native Americans
(b) Snow
(c) Illness
(d) A burning sun

3. What did Sutter do?
(a) He was a pioneer.
(b) He established a fort and trading post.
(c) He was a hunter.
(d) He rescued people who were injured on the trail.

4. How old was Virginia Elizabeth Backenstoe Reed when the family left Illinois?
(a) Almost 18
(b) Almost 7
(c) Almost 13
(d) Almost 25

5. How did Tamsen Donner women feel about the trip?
(a) She thought it was going much better than expected.
(b) She thought it would be to their advantage.
(c) She braced herself for the harshness of it.
(d) She thought they would regret it.

Short Answer Questions

1. What book did Reed and Donner use for guidance?

2. Independence, Missouri known for all of these except what?

3. When did they think the summit would be snowed in?

4. What West Hastings' occupation?

5. Who possessed the west?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened with Edward Breen?

2. Why did each family have three wagons?

3. Why did Virginia's father choose to take his family to California?

4. What type of obstacles did people on wagon trains frequently have to face?

5. What happened to James Reed after he killed Snyder?

6. Describe what would eventually become known as the Pioneer Palace Car.

7. What was "The Emigrants Guide to Oregon and California" like?

8. What did the families do in the evenings?

9. How did Virginia feel about her traveling clothes?

10. Why was Independence, Missouri so famous?

(see the answer keys)

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