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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is the only person in America who can live a life of leisure, like a gentleman, according to an early American saying that Franklin mentions?
(a) The President.
(b) A housewife.
(c) A child.
(d) A hog.

2. What does Williams compare the various incidents of Lincoln's life to?
(a) Dancers doing a series of intricately choreographed steps.
(b) Ridges of a sculpture that should be made of Lincoln.
(c) Lines in a carefully crafted poem.
(d) Instruments playing in an orchestra.

3. What category of people does Williams say that Houston fits into?
(a) Those who never struggle or try to succeed.
(b) Those who tread water their entire lives.
(c) Those who come up from under.
(d) Those who go under and then drown.

4. What does the narrator say about Washington's attitude toward the presidency?
(a) He regretted not having a Parliament.
(b) He felt his terms of office were a failure.
(c) He craved power.
(d) He felt it was his duty to serve.

5. What does Williams admire about Poe's choice of words?
(a) Poe's words are beautiful to listen to if you read them out loud.
(b) Poe's words can be recognized out of context because they are so original.
(c) Poe's words are not associated with anything else but thoughts and ideas.
(d) Poe's words carry shades of other meanings that come from their usage elsewhere.

6. Why does John Paul Jones write to Benjamin Franklin in "Battle Between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis"?
(a) To explain why he feels that naval policy should be changed.
(b) To explain the circumstances leading up to the loss of a ship.
(c) To explain how ships could be better maintained so that they are more resistant to fires.
(d) To explain the outcome of a recent battle.

7. Who does the narrator say was the only American ever to see General Washington in a towering rage?
(a) Benjamin Franklin.
(b) General Lee.
(c) Aaron Burr.
(d) Thomas Jefferson.

8. Who raises Sam Houston during the early years of his life?
(a) The Winnebago.
(b) The Cherokee.
(c) The Abnaki.
(d) The Tuscaloosa.

9. Why does Franklin recommend against trying to make money in America through manufacturing?
(a) To do well in manufacturing, you need large numbers of poor people who are willing to work for low wages.
(b) There are no cities in America in which to build manufacturing plants.
(c) America does not have enough raw materials to do well at manufacturing any items of commercial value.
(d) Few ships travel to America, so manufacturers could not market their goods to foreign ports.

10. What kind of position is Jones' squadron in when the battle begins?
(a) Jones has the same number of ships as the enemy.
(b) Jones has fewer ships, but is in a better position geographically than the enemy is.
(c) Jones has only three ships left and is at a severe disadvantage.
(d) Jones has 20 ships and is at a strong advantage.

11. What part of Poe's reputation does Williams say is undeserved?
(a) His reputation for criticizing other writers.
(b) His reputation for poetic braggadocio.
(c) His reputation for eccentricity.
(d) His reputation for the strange and macabre.

12. What happens to the barge that is towing John Paul Jones' ship?
(a) The barge catches fire in the battle.
(b) The barge sinks in a storm at sea.
(c) The bargemen cut the tow rope and steal the barge.
(d) The barge is taken over by mutinous sailors.

13. What does Houston do after he resigns as Governor of Tennessee?
(a) He joins the Indians who had been relocated to Arkansas.
(b) He settled down on a homestead and built a house.
(c) He decides to go back to school.
(d) He goes West to explore.

14. What does Williams say that people of color excel at, more so than any white person?
(a) Singing jazz music and spirituals.
(b) Cooking and planning a gourmet menu.
(c) Dancing and playing sports.
(d) Cleanliness and picking out beautiful fabrics to wear.

15. What event has distracted historians from telling the whole story about Burr?
(a) Shea's rebellion.
(b) The French and Indian War.
(c) The American Revolution.
(d) The duel with Alexander Hamilton.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jacataqua ask Aaron Burr to do?

2. Why does Williams think that Burr did not get along with Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson?

3. What does Poe call Longfellow?

4. Why does the narrator admire Pere Rasles?

5. According to the narrator, what was Boone's emotional state when he lived alone in the wilderness for three months?

(see the answer keys)

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