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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 death toll ratio given at the end of Chapter 4?

2. Who was willing to help foot the bill for an outlet pipe system to increase the safety of the dam?

3. What is the name of the engineer of the Chicago Limited?

4. What disease was the only one prevalent among Johnstown residents in 1889 before the flood?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Describe what happens to the Limited when the flood carries it away.

10. How does Benjamin Ruff repair the dam after it first floods in 1862?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of technology during the flood. What are some of the technological advances that could have helped the people of Johnstown to survive the flood? Did they make proper use of these measures?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's use of perspective in the book. What methods did he use to tell this story? Was his use of perspective successful?

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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