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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the spring of 1973, what does the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do to try to alleviate the tremendous force of water against the control structure?
(a) Dam up water north of the structure.
(b) Purposely flood the entire region.
(c) Dig a ditch to re-route the water.
(d) Open up all eleven gates.

2. When floodwaters cover twenty-six thousand square miles in 1927, how is New Orleans saved?
(a) Quickly digging a diversion channel.
(b) Layering sandbags along the riverbanks.
(c) Blowing up a downstream levee.
(d) Building concrete walls around the city.

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

4. In the 1800s, swamps in Louisiana are drained and used as what?
(a) Farmland.
(b) Storage pits.
(c) Military camps.
(d) Hideouts.

5. This book is a:
(a) Traditional history textbook.
(b) Historical nonfiction novel.
(c) Traditional science textbook.
(d) Science fiction novel.

6. From St. Louis down to the Atchafalaya, General Sands takes note of what?
(a) Storms.
(b) Number of private boats.
(c) Number of bird colonies.
(d) Complaints.

7. In 1928, Congress enacts the Flood Control Act to start what?
(a) Atchafalaya River and Levees Project.
(b) Old and New Rivers Effort.
(c) Rivers, Tributaries, and Levees Effort.
(d) Mississippi River and Tributaries Project.

8. What river does the author mention that connects the Atchafalaya and the Mississippi to form an H?
(a) Black River.
(b) Old River.
(c) New River.
(d) Red River.

9. By 1812, the east bank of the Mississippi River is levied up to which city?
(a) Alexandria.
(b) Baton Rouge.
(c) Shreveport.
(d) Lake Charles.

10. In feet, how long is the towboat Mississippi?
(a) 42.
(b) 23.
(c) 217.
(d) 459.

11. In the early 1800s, private plantation owners in Louisiana levee riverbanks to:
(a) Irrigate their land.
(b) Protect their land.
(c) Combine river water.
(d) Store river water.

12. What is a weir?
(a) Large lock.
(b) Small dam.
(c) Large gate.
(d) Small tugboat.

13. The author mentions that when he met Rabalais, he wore what in his pocket?
(a) Gold pocket watch.
(b) Checkered bandana.
(c) Silver pocket watch.
(d) Red bandana.

14. What does the 1927 flood in Louisiana teach officials about levees?
(a) They work beautifully.
(b) They need to be built taller.
(c) More need to be constructed faster.
(d) They make the flooding problem worse.

15. Norris F. Rabalais was born and raised in what Louisiana parish?
(a) Evangeline.
(b) Avoyelles.
(c) West Feliciana.
(d) Concordia.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author states that how much of New Orleans lies fifteen feet below sea level?

2. The author asserts that due to floods in the region, Louisiana loses how much land each year?

3. From the time that the U.S. Army Corps takes control of the Atchafalaya, what word does the author associate with the river and the region?

4. The livelihood of approximately how many people is affected by the Old River Control?

5. A navigation lock on the bank of the Mississippi River lowers ships down to where?

(see the answer keys)

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