5. The most drownings have occurred in __________________ Lake and arguably no body of water in the Park (and probably in the whole United States) is more potentially dangerous.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the one fight that led to a death. Are you surprised by this death? Why or why not?

2. What happened to LeRoy R. Piper? What does the author think about him?

3. What were the causes of the earliest Yellowstone deaths? Why is little known about these deaths?

4. Describe one of the shootings. What does this story reveal about those who were involved in this shooting and about guns?

5. When did the era of drowning begin? How could this have been prevented or lessened?

6. How often do forest fires take place? Why might this be?

7. How do many visitors enter a park? What can be done to protect these people? How does this affect the park? What does the author have to say about these safety measures?

8. Did any drownings take place simultaneously? Why or why not?

9. What does the author have to say about the visitors' behavior regarding the park? What is his opinion about how the park is required to protect these visitors and how our nation as a whole treats its citizens? Do you agree? Why or why not?

10. Describe the first suicide at Yellowstone. How is this story important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Deaths have taken place due to automobile and plane crashes.

Part 1) Describe the advent of the automobile in Yellowstone. How does this reflect changes throughout the U.S.? How did the automobile change Yellowstone? How does the author feel about this? Why does he feel this way?

Part 2) How dangerous is the automobile? How does this compare to horse-related fatalities? Are you surprised about which is more dangerous? Why or why not? How does the number of automobile fatalities compare to the number of plane crash fatalities?

Part 3) Who is often at fault in automobile accident fatalities? Who is at fault in plane crash fatalities? What can be done to prevent both of these types of accidents? How does this impact Yellowstone? How do these preventative measures compare to those used throughout the U.S.? Are these measures adequate? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Death caused by bears is rare.

Part 1) Describe what usually takes place when bears and humans come into contact in Yellowstone National Park. Are you surprised by the behavior of many visitors around bears? Why or why not?

Part 2) Why might so few deaths occur from bear attacks? Are you surprised by this? Why or why not? How does this affect your view of bears? When a bear attacks, who is at fault? Why?

Part 3) Describe the story the author tells of someone who was killed by a bear at Yellowstone. Are you surprised by this bear's reaction? Why or why not? What might this reaction say about the bear? What should have been done about this bear? Why? What was done after this incident? Was this sufficient? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Deaths have been caused by lightning strikes, fires, and earthquakes.

Part 1) Describe the deaths caused by lightning strikes, fires, and earthquakes. Who was at fault in each of these deaths? Could these deaths have been prevented? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 2) Are these dangers as important as other dangers in Yellowstone? Why or why not? How are these deaths different from others in this book?

Part 3) What can be done to help prevent injury and death from lightning strikes, fires, and earthquakes? How can the park learn from other areas of the country where lightning strikes, fires, and earthquakes are more prevalent?

(see the answer keys)

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