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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What reputation did the 40 mile desert have?
(a) It was a graveyard for abandoned wagons.
(b) It was more beautiful than other deserts.
(c) It was forgiving for a desert.
(d) It was a death trap.

2. What did the note from Hastings on the stick say?
(a) He told them to turn around and go back.
(b) He said he would be with them shortly.
(c) His party had gotten ill so they were delayed.
(d) The trail ahead was very bad, and they should wait for Hastings.

3. How long did the travelers expect to be in the Great Salt Lake Desert?
(a) 1 very long and hard day
(b) 3-4 days
(c) 7-8 days
(d) 14 days

4. How fast was the Donner Party moving along the Humboldt?
(a) 10 miles a day
(b) 2 miles a day
(c) 20 miles a day
(d) 15 miles a day

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

6. What sight did Reed see as he rode ahead?
(a) He found water shortly ahead.
(b) There were corpses on the ground.
(c) He found abandoned wagons.
(d) People were unyoking their oken and driving them ahead to find water.

7. When did they think the summit would be snowed in?
(a) That week
(b) By the middle of November
(c) By the middle of December
(d) By January

8. Why did the travelers journey south after the desert?
(a) They lost their sense of direction.
(b) They were following the tracks of Hastings and his parties.
(c) They were following the directions in their book.
(d) They were looking for warmth.

9. How with the group feeling by the time they reached the shore of the Great Salt Lake?
(a) Tired but happy
(b) Worn-out and discouraged
(c) Euphoric
(d) Angry

10. How many wagons did the Reeds lose in the desert?
(a) 1
(b)
(c) 2
(d) 3

11. How did the Reed women feel about the trip?
(a) It was going much better than they expected.
(b) They thought they would regret it.
(c) They were very excited about the adventure.
(d) They braced themselves for the harshness of it.

12. How did Reed react to Clyman's message?
(a) He hugged the man for the good news.
(b) He brushed off the warnings.
(c) He told everyone they should move out as quickly as possible.
(d) He started making weapons.

13. What did the first group find that pioneers had left the winter before?
(a) Food
(b) Weapons
(c) A cabin
(d) Maps

14. What was the Caw tribe like?
(a) They were wise and offered traveling advice.
(b) They were hostile.
(c) They were peaceful.
(d) They wondered what the travelers were doing.

15. What was George Donner's occupation?
(a) Lawyer
(b) Farmer
(c) He ran mills and made furniture.
(d) He ran a grocery store.

Short Answer Questions

1. When did the group reach the Humboldt Sink?

2. How did Virginia spend her days after leaving Missouri?

3. What happened to 13-year-old Edward Breen?

4. When did James Reed think they would hit the Sierra Nevada?

5. How did Pike die?

(see the answer keys)

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