View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was Nancy Graves' emotional status after the rescue?
(a) She was determined to help others through hardship.
(b) She felt as if she could do anything.
(c) She was forever haunted by the horrors she experienced.
(d) She slipped into a catatonic state.

2. How many rescue parties left Sutters Fort?
(a) 3
(b) 2
(c) 6
(d) 5

3. What did the rescuers tell the survivors about Forlorn Hope?
(a) They were all fine with no problems.
(b) They were lost.
(c) They were detained due to badly frostbitten feet.
(d) They died.

4. Why did they consider drawing lots?
(a) To see who should die so the others could live
(b) To see who would go without dinner
(c) To see who would go ahead alone to find help
(d) To see who would be in charge of tending the fire throughout the night

5. Hw many other people died the night Dolan died?
(a) 4
(b) 3
(c)
(d) 5

6. Why was sitting difficult for them?
(a) They were used to moving.
(b) They got too cold sitting in one spot.
(c) They no longer had fat on their bottoms.
(d) There was no furniture.

7. How did people learn about the story of the Donner Party?
(a) From newspapers
(b) Telephone
(c) Radio
(d) Television

8. Where are James Reed's pocket watch and Masonic medal displayed?
(a) At Johnson's Ranch
(b) Sutter's Fort
(c) At the University of California at Berkely
(d) At Donner Memorial State Park

9. How did Tamsen keep the children occupied?
(a) She gave them chores to do.
(b) She made crafts with them out of natural materials.
(c) She told them stories from the Bible.
(d) She had them make up stories.

10. What did Louis Keseberg do in California?
(a) He started lecturing on the Donner Party experience.
(b) He became a law officer.
(c) He ran a hotel and restaurant.
(d) He earned a reputation as a thief.

11. How did Virginia described the occasion where she nearly died?
(a) She wrote that it was a useless attempt right from the start.
(b) She didn't mention it.
(c) She merely said that her feet were frozen very badly.
(d) She was very dramatic about it.

12. How did Virginia feel about losing the Pioneer Palace Car?
(a) She was devastated.
(b) It made her angry.
(c) It didn't seem to bother her much.
(d) She thought it was practical.

13. What lured emigrants to California in 1849 in 1850?
(a) The discovery of silver
(b) The new railroad
(c) The discovery of gold
(d) They wanted to meet the members of the Donner Party.

14. What did Virginia write about her father's banishment?
(a) She only said that he had to go on to California for provisions. D
(b) She wrote that his punishment was very unjust.
(c) She said it was fair.
(d) She didn't write about it at all.

15. Why did Margaret trust Glover?
(a) He was a lawyer back home.
(b) He was the kindest man in the group.
(c) He was her best friend.
(d) He was a Mason like her husband.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who did Foster want to kill?

2. Who was the first snowshoer to die?

3. How many people left with the first rescue team?

4. What was Louis Keseberg notorious for?

5. What instinctive rule comes into play regarding cannibalism?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 542 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample