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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Cortez finally burn the city?
(a) To kill the inhabitants of the city who were trapped inside.
(b) To destroy a place which would have given refuge to the forces that were opposing him.
(c) To demoralize the Aztecs so that they would stop resisting him so fiercely.
(d) To give glory to the Christian God by destroying temples full of idols.

2. What does Cotton Mather think about the gods of the Indian nations?
(a) He thinks that they are idols.
(b) He thinks that they are imaginary.
(c) He thinks that they are other gods.
(d) He thinks that they are devils.

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

4. How does the death of Juan Ortiz affect De Soto?
(a) It leaves him without a translator.
(b) It makes him feel lonely and wish he had a friend.
(c) It leaves him without a doctor.
(d) It leaves him without a single soldier who knows the way back.

5. What does Columbus want to do instead of traveling to the New World again?
(a) He wants to go on vacation to someplace warm and tropical.
(b) He wants to visit his family members in Portugal.
(c) He wants to go on a pilgrimmage to holy places.
(d) He wants to circumnavigate the globe.

6. Why do the Puritans have such a strong impact on the national character, according to the narrator?
(a) Because they are so driven to evangelize to others.
(b) Because they persuade everyone else to emulate them.
(c) Because they are among the first to arrive in a wild place.
(d) Because they are so dashing and heroic that everyone tells stories about them.

7. How does the narrator describe the coastline of North America?
(a) As a swamp-infested hell.
(b) As a land of plenty.
(c) As a land rich in mineral resources.
(d) As a wilderness full of savages.

8. At the beginning of the Introduction, Horace Gregory quotes William Carlos Williams as saying "History, history! We fools, what do we know or care?" What does Gregory think Williams means by this?
(a) History is full of lies.
(b) Most Americans know little of history.
(c) It is dangerous to get involved in history.
(d) History matters only to fools.

9. Which of the following is NOT a term used by the narrator to describe Queen Elizabeth?
(a) Fairy Queen.
(b) Virginia.
(c) Worm.
(d) Atheist.

10. Which of the following names does the narrator call Raleigh?
(a) Explorer of the Orinoco.
(b) James' man.
(c) The planter who never planted.
(d) The new King.

11. What is Columbus' point when he makes the following statement: "I was twenty-eight years old when I came into your Highnesses' service, and now I have not a hair upon me that is not gray; my body is infirm..."
(a) He is worried about who will take on his work after he dies.
(b) He is sorry to see that the best years of his life are behind him.
(c) He has been a dedicated servant of the King and Queen for his entire life.
(d) He feels that he should be allowed to see a doctor.

12. Why is Ponce de Leon free to go exploring in Florida?
(a) He is independently wealthy and can do as he pleases.
(b) He is not free to go, but goes anyway.
(c) He has already accomplished all that he came for.
(d) He has been relieved of his job as Governor.

13. Why does Columbus count fewer leagues than he knows he has traveled?
(a) He is trying to check his navigational instruments to be sure that they are working properly.
(b) He is trying to test a new system of measurement to see which is most accurate.
(c) He is trying to reassure the crew that they have not traveled as far without seeing land as they think they have.
(d) He is trying to trick the King and Queen by giving them false information in his letters.

14. According to the narrator, which of the following is a logical outgrowth of the Puritan spirit?
(a) Know-nothingism and opportunism.
(b) Creativity and genius.
(c) Democracy and collective responsibility.
(d) Inventiveness and resourcefulness.

15. What does Gregory say about the way in which the reputation of In the American Grain grew?
(a) It became more popular after Williams died.
(b) It became more popular when it was marketed more aggressively.
(c) It became more popular when it was published in a magazine.
(d) It became more popular as it was falling out of print.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Juan Ortiz?

2. What is De Soto looking for?

3. How does Williams suggest that Ponce de Leon feels when he hears about Cortez and the wealth of Montezuma?

4. What causes the Puritan elders to finally get fed up with Thomas Morton?

5. How do the Spanish justify killing so many peaceful islanders?

(see the answer keys)

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