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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happened when Margaret tried to cross the mountain?
(a) She missed her children too much so she came back.
(b) She became ill.
(c) Her compass broke, and she had to turn back.
(d) The snow was too deep.

2. Where did George and Jacob Donner and their families camp?
(a) In California
(b) At Alder Creek
(c) At the summit
(d) At Tuskegee Lake

3. What did the survivors do with the buckskin strings from the rescue party's snowshoes?
(a) They held them reverently.
(b) They used them to tie the tent flap together so they wouldn't be cold any longer.
(c) They used them to tie up their remaining belongings.
(d) They stole them and ate them.

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

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

6. What was Louis Keseberg notorious for?
(a) Starting fights
(b) Killing Charles Stanton
(c) Possibly killing Tamsen Donner
(d) Robbing the others

7. What did Aunt Betsy cook in the morning?
(a) Soup
(b) Venison
(c) Shoemaker's arm
(d) A heart

8. What happened to the Breen's dog, Towser?
(a) It ran away.
(b) They had to eat it.
(c) The Native Americans stole it.
(d) They traded it to the Native Americans for food.

9. How did the native Americans help the snow shoers?
(a) They fed them pine nuts and acorn bread.
(b) They carried them back to the camp.
(c) They went and got help for them.
(d) They gave them maps to California.

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

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

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

13. What was the problem with Tommy?
(a) He couldn't breathe right.
(b) His leg wound was infected.
(c) He couldn't walk through the deep snow, and they couldn't carry him.
(d) He wouldn't stop coughing.

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

15. How did Patrick Dolan die?
(a) He died from infection.
(b) He hallucinated and broke away from the fire then died of cold and starvation.
(c) He ate poisoned meat.
(d) He was killed.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who led the first rescue party that reached the survivors?

2. How did Victoria react to the cannibalism?

3. What happened to George Donner's hand?

4. Why didn't Virginia join the group that went off for help?

5. When did Mary Murphy get married?

(see the answer keys)

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