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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Pike die?
(a) He was murdered.
(b) He died of illness.
(c) He died of infection.
(d) His pistol accidentally fired off as he reloaded it.

2. What was in the middle of the desert?
(a) A lake
(b) A mountain
(c) A huge cactus
(d) A cabin

3. What did the travelers encounter as they climbed the Sierra Nevada?
(a) Snow
(b) A burning sun
(c) New friendships with the Native Americans
(d) Illness

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

5. Where did the United States end?
(a) Texas
(b) Missouri
(c) California
(d) New Mexico

6. What did Hastings promise the Donner Party in his letter?
(a) There was food on the trail.
(b) They would move quickly through the tough parts.
(c) He promised he would personally escort them through the shortcut.
(d) The way was easier up ahead.

7. What was used to wash the dishes?
(a) They were wiped out with leaves.
(b) Soap and water
(c) Sand or gritty dirt
(d) They never washed dishes.

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

9. How close were the travelers to the summit when they decided to rest and got snowed in?
(a) 1/4 mile
(b) 20 miles
(c) Three miles
(d) 50 miles

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

11. What did James Clyman tell the travelers?
(a) The weather was perfect for travel.
(b) There were hostile Indians up ahead.
(c) He told them to stay away from the Hastings shortcut.
(d) The shortcut was clear for them.

12. What did the surface of the desert consist of?
(a) Copper-colored powdery sand
(b) Dust
(c) Nipping mites
(d) Salt and alkali

13. What is caching, according to the emigrants?
(a) Removing furniture and burying it to prevent theft
(b) Putting food aside in rations
(c) Dumping items out of the wagon
(d) Storing food they found on the trail

14. What happened to Mr. Wolfinger?
(a) He was found murdered.
(b) He went off to find help.
(c) He died from an infection on his leg.
(d) He became ill.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Why did Reed kill Snyder?

3. What did the travelers use instead of firewood to keep their fires going?

4. How deep was the snow by the time they reached Truckee Lake?

5. How did the Reed women feel about the trip?

(see the answer keys)

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