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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Who possessed the west?
(a) Mexico
(b) Native Americans
(c) Californians
(d) England

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How many wagons did each family have?

2. How old was Virginia Elizabeth Backenstoe Reed when the family left Illinois?

3. How many people were in the group when it was at its full strength?

4. What did Sutter do?

5. How many times did the company end up fording the Truckee River?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the Donner party find when they emerged from the Cutoff?

2. How did Charles Stanton helped the traveling party?

3. Why did some of the people in Springfield question James Reed's ideas?

4. What happened to Mr. Hardcoop?

5. Why was Independence, Missouri so famous?

6. What did the note that Hastings left tell the travelers? Was his statement valid?

7. Why did Virginia's father choose to take his family to California?

8. What would they have to do in order to cross a river?

9. What type of obstacles did people on wagon trains frequently have to face?

10. Describe what would eventually become known as the Pioneer Palace Car.

(see the answer keys)

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