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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The May-Pole at Merry Mount.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who tells Ponce de Leon there is a fountain of youth?
(a) A child.
(b) One of his own men.
(c) An old woman.
(d) An old man.

2. Toward the end of the introduction, Gregory quotes the following passage: "Question him in hell, O Muse, where he has gone, and when there is an answer, sing and make clear the reasons that he gave for that last blow. Why did he send his son into that tropic jungle and not go himself, upon so dangerous an errand?" Why does Gregory include this quote?
(a) To show the lyricism of Williams' prose.
(b) To prove that Walter Raleigh was a coward.
(c) To suggest that even Williams cannot answer all of history's questions.
(d) To demonstrate that history must judge the actions of historical figures.

3. How does Freydis handle her quarrel with the two brothers, Helgi and Finnbogi?
(a) She steals property from the brothers and refuses to give it back, claiming that it will compensate her for the quarrel.
(b) She talks to her neighbors about the brothers, turning the community against them until they are forced into exile.
(c) She goes to court against the brothers and sues them, winning her case and forcing them to pay a fine.
(d) She tricks her husband into killing them, and kills the women of their household herself.

4. Who does Gregory say is depicted more boldly by Williams than by any other writer?
(a) George Washington.
(b) Aaron Burr.
(c) Cotton Mather.
(d) Abraham Lincoln.

5. What kind of literature does Gregory say is forced to answer the question of whether or not it is sincere?
(a) Classical literature.
(b) Modern literature.
(c) English literature.
(d) American literature.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the moral of the story about the rough sailor who falls sick, dies, and is thrown overboard?

2. What does Columbus do when he thinks the ship might capsize?

3. Why does Cortez finally burn the city?

4. Who does the narrator address "Sir Walter Raleigh" to?

5. What happens to Cortez when the Aztecs counterattack from outside the city?

(see the answer key)

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