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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many states were in the Union in the spring of 1846?
(a) 20
(b) 28
(c) 13
(d) 52

2. How many people were in the group when it was at its full strength?
(a) 87
(b) 63
(c) 142
(d) 41

3. Where did the children sleep?
(a) On Grandma's bed
(b) Around the campfire
(c) In a second story loft
(d) Under the wagon

4. When did James Reed think they would hit the Sierra Nevada?
(a) By January
(b) By September
(c) By July
(d) By October

5. How fast was the Donner Party moving as they blazed through the Wasatch?
(a) 10 miles a day
(b) 15 miles a day
(c) 2 miles a day
(d) 8 miles a day

6. Why did they decide to take the cutoff?
(a) Hastings joined them so they had a guide.
(b) They didn't like the people going the other route.
(c) It was what they planned all along.
(d) They had a group vote, but they didn't allow the women to vote.

7. What was Reed going on to do?
(a) Get food for the travelers
(b) Negotiate with the Indians
(c) He was racing ahead to bring back help.
(d) Find Hastings

8. What happened when Hardcoop could no longer walk?
(a) They left him behind to die.
(b) They carried him on their backs.
(c) They made crutches for him.
(d) They let him lie in the wagons.

9. What wild animal almost broke into the camp?
(a) Buffalo
(b) Wolf
(c) Hog
(d) Bear

10. What did the book they follow mostly consist of?
(a) Propaganda
(b) Advice for travel
(c) Packing lists
(d) Weather reports

11. Why did Bridger promote the shortcut?
(a) He heard good things about it.
(b) He had been on it himself and thought it was a wise plan.
(c) He was desperate for the business it would bring as people passed by his trading post.
(d) He believed in Hastings.

12. What was the Reed wagon later called?
(a) Old Reliable
(b) Little One
(c) Pioneer Palace Car
(d) A monstrosity

13. How long did it take the group to prepare to travel?
(a) Two years
(b) Two days
(c) Several months
(d) A week

14. What did the travelers eat for lunch?
(a) Venison
(b) Bread and beef jerkey
(c) Fish
(d) Grits

15. Where was James Reed from originally?
(a) New York
(b) Ireland
(c) Missouri
(d) North Carolina

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Hastings promise the Donner Party in his letter?

2. Independence, Missouri known for all of these except what?

3. What did the children suck on to bring forth saliva?

4. What did the note from Hastings on the stick say?

5. What book did Reed and Donner use for guidance?

(see the answer keys)

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