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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. How far away is Roebling's new house in Columbia Ridge from the bridge?

2. What is Theodore Cooper hired to investigate at the bridge site?

3. How many tons of wire are needed to suspend the Brooklyn Bridge?

4. Which of the following is NOT a weather that slows down the spinning process on the bridge?

5. What is the name of the worker who dies from the bends within a half hour of being down in the caisson?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Low takes Roebling to court for management power?

2. How did the newspapers react to Emily's involvement in the Bridge project?

3. What effects does Smith see the bends has on workers circulatory systems?

4. What is life like for Washington Roebling during the three years he is forced to live in Trenton?

5. What problem do local reporters have with the temporary footbridge put into place for workers who are "spinning" up the bridge?

6. How did non-ticketholders find a way to join in the celebration of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge?

7. How did Emily Warren help keep the Brooklyn Bridge project afloat when her husband became ill?

8. What argument do Roebling and Hewitt find themselves in over the wire contract?

9. How did Roebling celebrate his accomplishments after all his guests left his home?

10. What statements about wire and Roebling does the Herald print, even though they are not factual?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the epilogue of this novel, David McCullough takes great liberties in comparing the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge to many other feats of technology in the 20th century. Choose two of the feats McCullough examines in the text and explain why you do / do not think his comparison is a fair one, and why.

Essay Topic 2

The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge withstood many fierce scandals. Choose one of these scandals and explain how it came to the spotlight. Then, explain how the scandal affected construction of the bridge, and which characters were most affected by its headlines.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the course of their lives, the relationships between John Roebling's many sons went through a variety of changes. At some points the three were working well together, and at other points the three weren't speaking. Choose two moments of relational change between the brothers and explain the onset of that change. Then, explain why the relationship between the brothers changed so frequently, and what hidden jealousies they continued to have with one another, even into their old age.

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