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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 South Fork Creek described as being the perfect one of in Chapter 3?

2. What is the name of the cantankerous editor of the Tribune?

3. How long does it take for Lake Conemaugh to empty in Chapter 4?

4. How many people live in South Fork, according to Chapter 2?

5. What does the book say the embankment on the river was built up of?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How is the founding of Johnstown described?

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

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

5. How does the author describe the cheap construction techniques used on the South Fork dam?

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

7. How are the events of the townsfolk on the day of the flood between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. described?

8. In what way is Johnstown booming financially before the flood?

9. What happens after Lake Conemaugh empties in 36-45 minutes?

10. What does John G. Parke do when he sees serious leaks in the dam in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the structure of the book. What methods did the author use to tell this story? Was the structure used in the book successful?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the role of the journalists in the crisis. What information could be gathered based on their reports? Are these reports mostly factual? What negative aspects were involved in these reports?

(see the answer keys)

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