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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 many passengers and porters on the Day Express died in the flood?

2. At what time does the dam simply move away in a push at the end of Chapter 3?

3. What term did Johnstown residents use collectively for any immigrant willing to work cheap?

4. What is the name of Hettie Ogle's daughter that is with her during the flood?

5. Which of the following immigrants were not mentioned to be watching the parade in Johnstown?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the nature of John Fulton's report on the safety of the dam in Chapter 2?

3. What leisure activities are popular in Johnstown?

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

5. How does John G. Parke describe the weather at the beginning of Chapter 1?

6. How is the South Fork dam described at the beginning of Chapter 2?

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

8. How is the founding of Johnstown described?

9. How is the rain described when it starts in Johnstown at 4 p.m. on May 31st?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the role of the train engineers during the crisis. What impact did they have on the outcome of the flood?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the nature of the author's depictions of the flood victims in the book. What methods did he use to obtain these descriptions? What evidence is there to suggest they are accurate accounts?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the author's use of tone in the book. In what way did the author insert his own perspective into the tone of the book?

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