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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. A self-defense shooting happened in 1886 when stockmen Alex Ferguson and Charles Carpenter had just had a fight about what?

2. Most of the river drownings are due to what?

3. What else is important regarding the boat?

4. ____________ fur trappers were killed in 1839 and two park visitors in 1877.

5. When is the only time Whittlesey will consider sailing on the Lake?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How many have died in the Yellowstone River? What most likely led to these deaths?

3. When have plane crashes occurred? Which was the largest craft to crash? Why is this significant?

4. 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?

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

6. How many people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning? How is this relevant to today?

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

8. Where did the Native Americans in Yellowstone live?

9. What is known about stagecoach wrecks in the park? What was the cause of most accidents? Why might this have been a consistent problem?

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

Several deadly plants are found in Yellowstone.

Part 1) What are these deadly plants? How significant are deadly plants in the Western Hemisphere, according to the author? Explain. Are the deadly plants found in Yellowstone of significance? Why or why not?

Part 2) Describe the deaths caused by these plants? Are these deaths due to ignorance and a lack of attention paid by the visitor or to the park? Why? Would the author agree with you? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does this information about deadly plants support the author's purpose for the book? How do these deaths compare to other causes of deaths?

Essay Topic 2

A major cause of death is drowning.

Part 1) Use information in this book to support this statement. Why might this be a major cause of death? Are you surprised by this? Why or why not? What has the park done to prevent such deaths? How has the park learned from these deaths and adjusted accordingly?

Part 2) Who do you believe is at fault for most of the drownings at Yellowstone? Why? Would the author agree with you? Why or why not? How has the park been changed because of these deaths? Are these good changes? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you believe that drowning is a major cause of death throughout the U.S.? Why or why not? Why might it be more prevalent in parks such as Yellowstone? How can people prepare themselves for drowning risks? Should anything be mandatory for visitors wishing to be be near and/or in water? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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