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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens when Bridget Bishop attempts to plead not guilty?
(a) She is denied the chance to hear the witnesses against her.
(b) She is convicted of gross lying in the court.
(c) She is tortured until she confesses.
(d) She is allowed to speak on her own behalf.

2. What does the narrator admire about the Pilgrims?
(a) Their imagination and ingenuity.
(b) Their fierceness and hard work.
(c) Their respect for authority.
(d) Their devotion to religion.

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

4. 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 prove that Walter Raleigh was a coward.
(b) To show the lyricism of Williams' prose.
(c) To demonstrate that history must judge the actions of historical figures.
(d) To suggest that even Williams cannot answer all of history's questions.

5. What people do Karlsefni and Snorri find in the New World?
(a) The Abenaki.
(b) The Iroquois.
(c) The Skrellings.
(d) The Inuit.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do the Puritans have such a strong impact on the national character, according to the narrator?

2. Who is Juan Ortiz?

3. Who tells Ponce de Leon there is a fountain of youth?

4. What is the overall tone of Williams' remarks about the Puritans?

5. Who does Columbus write to while he is on his return voyage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the one moral failing that Williams mentions that George Washington has? How does this failing affect Washington?

2. What does Williams think that Benjamin Franklin would say are the most important American virtues? Does Williams agree with Franklin? Why or why not?

3. What was Raleigh's relationship with Queen Elizabeth?

4. How is "De Soto and the New World" narrated?

5. Why did Williams compare the Puritans to dwarves in fairy tales? What does he mean by this?

6. How do Columbus' voyages east, returning to Spain, differ from his voyages west, heading to the New World?

7. How does the cacique of Quigaltam react when De Soto tells him that De Soto is the "child of the sun" and must be obeyed and offered tribute?

8. What were some of the dangers faced by sailors on ships during a battle at sea?

9. Why does Benjamin Franklin say that manufacturing is not a viable activity in the American economy?

10. Why did Ponce de Leon travel around the Caribbean? What was his business there?

(see the answer keys)

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