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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. Why were veterans enlisted during the time the levees were being fixed?

2. What was the reputation of the Boston Club?

3. If Thompson's plan is implemented, what will happen to Plaquemines Parish and St. Bernard?

4. Why did President Coolidge hire Herbert Hoover?

5. What was James Thompson always seeking?

Short Essay Questions

1. After facing complete opposition, how would Eads' offer to independently pay for the construction of the jetties completely change the minds of the public and politicians?

2. As many cities along the Mississippi found themselves under tremendous amounts of water, what was the mood in the Midwest?

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. When Humphreys does publish his report, it receives great acclaim in Europe, but because of the Civil War it doesn't receive a lot of recognition in the United States. Why would the Civil War limit the recognition of Humphreys' report?

5. 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?

6. Why does Hoover see being the chairman of the flood committee as a great opportunity?

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

8. Why does Thompson feel he is doing a good thing by withholding news from the public?

9. After the Mounds Landing Crevasse widens and thousands of acres are underwater, many other levees begin to fail. The white people left the area, while the black people stayed behind to work. What does this tell the reader about the Delta region?

10. Why do people want to follow the ways of the Ku Klux Klan rather than follow Percy's successful lead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many events happened concurrently in a rapid pace. What events marked the climax? Why is this the climax? How did the history of the Delta region change from this point?

Essay Topic 2

President Coolidge was president during the time of the floods. What contributions did Coolidge make in flood relief or during that time? Why did he behave this way? Do you believe that the flooding in 1927 was one of the reasons he did not run again for president? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

World War I was occurring during the time of the flood. How did the war affect the Delta region during this time? Why was the war mentioned repeatedly throughout the book? Who did the war affect the greatest and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 851 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample