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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. Where does August Rollfing ride out the storm?

2. What building does Isaac see is still intact after the hurricane?

3. Isaac and his colleagues believe that the ____ is the single most destructive element in a hurricane.

4. Whom did Isaac tell he was afraid that he may have underestimated the storm?

5. Isaac recognizes his wife's body from her _________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Isaac claim that he did after observing conditions on the beach the morning of the storm?

2. What happens to the second train headed to Galveston the day of the storm?

3. What is Col. William Sterett's experience as he enters Galveston?

4. What is John Blagden experiencing during the storm?

5. Why does Joseph want his telegram to the U.S. Weather Bureau chief be kept completely confidential?

6. What are some of the misconceptions that Isaac and his colleagues have about hurricanes?

7. What happens to Isaac the day after the storm?

8. In addition to the miracle of surviving the storm, what other miracle do Joseph and Isaac experience on the day of the hurricane?

9. How do people in Galveston initially react to the storm?

10. How do the children of Galveston react in the early hours of the storm?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Erik Larson present a more nuanced look at the Galveston hurricane than the one that is contained in the National Archives? What is the critical difference between the two?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of the folly of man and the way it resonates throughout the book. How is the story of Isaac's Storm an example of man's best intentions gone tragically wrong?

Essay Topic 3

What is the true "Law of Storms" as it pertains to the Galveston hurricane?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 865 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample