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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What West Hastings' occupation?

3. How long did the travelers expect to be in the Great Salt Lake Desert?

4. What was Sutter's fort like?

5. Where was James Reed from originally?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Independence, Missouri so famous?

2. What was "The Emigrants Guide to Oregon and California" like?

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

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

5. How did the Reed wagons do on the journey?

6. What was the Forty Mile Desert like?

7. Even though Hastings didn't meet them at the Fort, why did they continue to go on to take the Cutoff?

8. How did Virginia feel about her traveling clothes?

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

10. Explain the idea behind "manifest destiny."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What were some of the things the members of the Donner Party resorted to as they tried to deal with their hunger?

Essay Topic 2

What happened at the campfire that led to Patrick Dolan's death?

Essay Topic 3

What disrupted James Reed's attempt to put together rescue teams? How did he manage to eventually get help?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 553 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample