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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. Who played a prominent role in getting Thompson's proposal approved?
(a) Will Percy.
(b) Coolridge.
(c) Hoover.
(d) Butler.

2. Prior to Thompson's plan being implemented, what happened to the refugees south of the levee?
(a) They built a new levee.
(b) They refused to leave.
(c) They evacuated.
(d) They protested.

3. Why did President Coolidge hire Herbert Hoover?
(a) To organize rescue and relief efforts.
(b) To design new levee systems.
(c) To fix the corruption in the Delta area.
(d) To organize new laws.

4. Why wasn't Humphrey's report accepted well in the United States?
(a) The report didn't make any sense.
(b) He didn't publish it in the United States.
(c) The Civil War was happening.
(d) The Americans didn't believe him.

5. What percentage of the United States does the Mississippi River drain?
(a) 50%.
(b) 30%.
(c) 41%.
(d) 25%.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Leroy Percy's speeches advocate?

2. What two things did Humphrey unsuccessfully attempt to do to change the mouth of the Mississippi River?

3. What helped Leroy Percy lose a lot of his political influence outside of the Delta area?

4. How did Humphrey prove himself to be in combat?

5. What happened the day after Thompson's plan is implemented?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the author says it is hoped that the bridge construction will "marry steamboats to railroads", what does he mean?

2. A racist governor is elected into office in Mississippi, yet it is still considered a safe place for the blacks to work. However, when waters begin to rise, black convicts are ordered to lay on the levee and use their bodies as sandbags. Does everyone follow Percy's influence to alleviate discrimination?

3. One night, a boat approaches the levee that protects St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parshes and is shot at. Why was the boat shot at?

4. As committees are formed to decide about dynamiting the levee, the Mounds Landing crevasse is brought up in conversation. Why is this crevasse brought into the conversation?

5. How do the politics in New Orleans operate during the time of the flood in 1927?

6. Humphreys has his friend, Charles Howell, inspect the progress Eads is making on the jetties. Howell makes a report that the jetties aren't working the way Eads said they would. Eads in turn has a friend of his disclaim Humphreys' report. Why does Humphreys lie in his report?

7. Why did the author start the book on a stormy night?

8. World War I has begun and the Delta area is flourishing, yet lacking in manpower. Percy is a big influence for the fine development of the area, yet the more successful the area's development becomes, the more Percy's popularity decreases. Why do you think this happens?

9. Much of the Delta region is underwater from the failure of levees, yet the people of Greenville still have faith in their protection levee. What happens to their levee?

10. What would be the purpose of one town sabotaging the levee in another town?

(see the answer keys)

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