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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. What is the name of the newspaper in Johnstown?

2. What is the name of the family who reports say were awakened and frightened by a "rumbling, roaring sound"?

3. What is the title of Chapter 2?

4. What sound is the only warning the people in East Conemaugh receive before the flood in Chapter 4?

5. What is the title of Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the four critical changes John Fulton discovers must be made regarding Ruff's men's findings at the end of Chapter 2?

2. What does John G. Parke do when he is awakened for the second time at 6:30 a.m.?

3. How is George Heiser described in Chapter 1?

4. What happens to the city of Woodvale in Chapter 4?

5. What does John G. Parke witness when he returns to the town from delivering the flood warning?

6. What happens when the water hits its first major obstacle in Chapter 4?

7. Describe what Hess and Liggett do after becoming stranded in Mineral Point.

8. What reason does the author say the local fishermen are irritated by the club management in Chapter 2?

9. What is Johnstown like in 1889 in terms of amenities?

10. How do the townspeople of Johnstown react to the telegraph message warning them that the dam would break?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the rescue efforts by the Johnstown townsfolk before and after the flood. What measures did they take to help others? Were these efforts successful?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the role of religion during the crisis. What role did religion play in the lives of the townsfolk of Johnstown? What might have been the author's purpose in including religious discussion in the text?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the role of the Hungarians' portrayal in the book. What reason did the author have for including these depictions in the book? What is telling of the townsfolk's treatment of the Hungarians after the flood?

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