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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Atchafalaya.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At one point, Rabalais drives the author first to the Mississippi River and then to the Atchafalaya River, showing him that the Mississippi is 18 feet above sea level while the Atchafalaya is how many feet above sea level?
(a) Twenty-five.
(b) Five.
(c) One.
(d) Nineteen.

2. Throughout the book, a predominant theme is that the following gets in the way of man's plans:
(a) Nature.
(b) Environmental Protection Agency.
(c) The economy.
(d) Machinery.

3. What does James B. Eads invent to explore the Mississippi River?
(a) Glass-bottom boat.
(b) Water telescope.
(c) Underwater camera.
(d) Submarine.

4. The Old River Control began its operations in what year?
(a) 1988.
(b) 1931.
(c) 1963.
(d) 1917.

5. A navigation lock on the bank of the Mississippi River lowers ships down to where?
(a) Red River.
(b) Atchafalaya River.
(c) Atlantic Ocean.
(d) Gulf of Mexico.

Short Answer Questions

1. Sympathetically, who does McPhee blame for destructive actions against the natural order of the environment?

2. The author mentions that when he met Rabalais, he wore what in his pocket?

3. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers distributes Atchafalaya river water to swamps, bayous, towns, and cities in:

4. Congress mandates that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey the Mississippi and tributaries in order to assure and improve what?

5. In 1973, what happens to the Old River Control structure despite engineers drilling it and filling it with cement?

(see the answer key)

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