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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. Who is Raphael G. Kazmann?

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

3. When floodwaters cover twenty-six thousand square miles in 1927, how is New Orleans saved?

4. What is a weir?

5. After the U.S. Army Corps takes control of the Atchafalaya, Old Cajun bayou life is:

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Major General Sands' concluding thoughts regarding the Old River Control Structure?

2. Congress enacts the Flood Control Act in 1928 to launch the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project. What is done through this project?

3. What is the goal of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with regards to the Atchafalya and Mississippi rivers?

4. Describe what McPhee writes about Morgan City, Louisiana.

5. Explain how the Mississippi River forms Louisiana over many centuries.

6. What are some of the predominant problems in the regions populated near the Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers?

7. Who is Henry Shreve, and what does he do?

8. What is James B. Eads' contribution to the Mississippi River?

9. Why does the author state that ever since the Corps took control of the Atchafalaya, the river's name means "collision" to him?

10. What is the Old River Control project developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

From your observations of the Louisiana, Iceland, and California examples the author covers in his book, explain why people choose to live in dangerous places where the forces of nature are especially active. Do you feel that the reasons for living in these places outweigh the risks and dangers? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In detail, explain how carefully studying the geological history of a region before engineering a project could lead to more effective, efficient, and lasting solutions. What other factors do people need to consider to come up with better solutions? What factors get in the way of developing a viable solution? How can engineers, politicians, conservationists, and residents work together to develop the right solutions?

Essay Topic 3

Explain how the work crews, commanders, and scientists in "Cooling The Lava" learn by trial and error.

1. What mistakes do they make along the way?

2. What do they learn from these mistakes, and how do they adapt?

3. What might the outcome have been had they not been as flexible in their approach?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 998 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample