View a FREE sample

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 cemetery that was found along the river which kept Civil War veterans?

2. What is the name of the two section train that came into Johnstown from Chicago?

3. What is the name of the manager that is described as the most powerful man in Johnstown?

4. What is the name of the family who are described as atypical in comparison with their neighbors in Johnstown?

5. What is the last name of the family who owns the store in Johnstown where rumors of a disaster become a joke just before the flood?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What leisure activities are popular in Johnstown?

5. How are the residents of Johnstown who are participating in the Memorial Day Parade described?

6. What do the passengers in Section 1 do once they realize they're in danger in Chapter 4?

7. How is George Heiser described in Chapter 1?

8. In what way does Daniel Johnson Morrell change the iron business according to Chapter 2?

9. What reasons does the author say allowed the water to flow freely down the mountains in Johnstown?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of time period in the book. In what way is the time period to blame for the flood? What might have been different for the town had the flood occurred in a modern time period?

Essay Topic 2

Examine John Fulton's report on the dam in Chapter 2. What is the nature of this report? What might have been prevented in terms of the flood had this report been taken more seriously?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's portrayal of social class in Johnstown. What role did the wealthy play in the town? What about the poor?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 696 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample