Legacy of Stone & Trees Rise in the Desert

Legacy of Stone & Trees Rise in the Desert

by Lucas Hlavacek

Use A Legacy of Stone to answer the next 6 questions​

​

Multiple Choice

What is the best summary of the selection “A Legacy of Stone”?

• Ferdinand Cheval spent many years collecting stones. He used these stones to build a structure, which he named the Ideal Palace. People doubted his abilities, but in time he completed the project. Today it is considered a masterpiece.

• Ferdinand Cheval noticed some stones when he worked for the postal service in France. He thought he could use the stones to build a palace. He used concrete, lime, and wire to cement the stones in place. The structure became known as the Ideal Palace.

• The Ideal Palace was built by Ferdinand Cheval. It is a historical monument that people from around the world travel to see. Cheval showed the world how an artist can succeed by working hard.

• The Ideal Palace is an inspiring masterpiece. The structure is 35 feet tall and took Ferdinand Cheval 33 years to complete. The Ideal Palace is so popular that it has even appeared on a postage stamp.

Multiple Choice

He followed no design rules and mixed cultures from around the world. (paragraph 5) Untrained in architecture or construction, he nonetheless had a vision. (paragraph 9)

What do these sentences help the reader understand about Cheval?

• He wanted to invent a new design that would impress professional builders.

• He experienced many challenges during the several years he spent building the palace.

• He thought that using unfamiliar materials could inspire his creativity.

• He did not let inexperience prevent him from creating an elaborate structure.

Multiple Choice

What does the word prolonged mean in paragraph 1 of the selection “A Legacy of Stone”?

• Working with inspiration

• Continuing for an extended time

• Presenting a large problem

• Moving a great distance

Multiple Choice

“Whatever your age, whatever you wish to achieve, if you are courageous, persistent, and hardworking, you are sure to succeed.” (Paragraph 9)

What can the reader infer from this quotation?

• Cheval did not realize it would take him 33 years to complete his project

• Cheval is surprised that his interest in rocks led him to create a masterpiece.

• Cheval had specific traits that helped him achieve his goal

• Cheval is an independent artist and did not want others to help him.

Multiple Choice

In the selection “A Legacy of Stone,” what does the organizational structure of the section “Inspiration” help the author emphasize?

• How Cheval’s route differed from other mail carrier routes

• How Cheval took steps to fulfill his dream of creating a palace

• The causes and effects of Cheval’s retirement

• A problem that Cheval solved by learning building skills

Multiple Choice

What is the most likely reason the author wrote the selection “A Legacy of Stone”?

• To describe the unusual life of Ferdinand Cheval

• To show why so many people visit the Ideal Palace

• To explain the history of the creation of the Ideal Palace

• To highlight important facts about Ferdinand Cheval

Use Trees Rise in the Desert to answer the next 4 questions​

​

Multiple Choice

Information in the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert” suggests that Sawadogo values —

• advice from others

• spreading knowledge

• personal wealth

• exploring new places

Multiple Choice

Which conclusion is supported by the information in paragraph 3 of the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert”?

• People are eager to try new ways to farm.

• The desert landscape naturally encourages plant growth.

• Zaï farming is the only successful way to prevent desertification.

• It can be helpful to look to the past for answers.

Multiple Choice

What is the author’s purpose in the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert”?

• To highlight the desert lifestyle of Sawadogo and his people

• To show people how to plant forests using zaï farming

• To explain the different steps involved in zaï farming

• To describe how Sawadogo found a way to improve desert land

Multiple Choice

What is the best summary of the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert”?

• Burkina Faso is a dry area located between the Sahara Desert and West Africa. A man named Yacouba Sawadogo dug many holes in the ground to try a method called zaï farming. When the rain finally came, the seeds sprouted. Now the area is a forest in the middle of the desert.

• During a ten-year desert drought, Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer in Burkina Faso, used an old method called zaï farming. Many doubted that his method would work. However, after years passed, the seeds Sawadogo planted produced a forest. Today Sawadogo shares his method with others.

• Yacouba Sawadogo dug several holes in the ground and filled them with organic materials such as cattle manure and leaves. The villagers thought Sawadogo was foolish for planting seeds in pits when there was no water to help them grow. However, the seeds grew and the zaï farming method proved successful.

• Farmers in Burkina Faso were having trouble growing crops because of the ten-year drought. Yacouba Sawadogo dug holes and waited for the rain. His neighbors laughed at him, but he explained that the rain would eventually come. Now Sawadogo travels around the entire region.

​Use BOTH READING SELECTIONS to answer the next five questions

​

Multiple Choice

What is one way that Cheval in the selection “A Legacy of Stone” and Sawadogo in the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert” are different?

• Cheval created a new design, but Sawadogo applied an old method

• Cheval was not always interested in architecture, but Sawadogo was always interested in farming.

• Cheval has inspired other artists, but Sawadogo’s work has gone unnoticed.

• Cheval was not sure if he could finish his project, but Sawadogo knew that his experiment would be successful.

Multiple Choice

Which idea is presented in both the selection “A Legacy of Stone” and the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert”?

• It takes talent to create a masterpiece.

• People slowly learn to appreciate the world around them.

• Landscapes naturally change over time.

• Accomplishing a task can take years of dedication.

Multiple Choice

How does Sawadogo in the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert” differ from Cheval in the selection “A Legacy of Stone”?

• Sawadogo is committed to his ideas.

• Sawadogo has a deep respect for nature.

• Sawadogo believes his method should be used by others.

• Sawadogo is willing to work hard.

Multiple Choice

Both the author of the selection “A Legacy of Stone” and the author of the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert” would most likely agree with which statement?

• The work of one person can have far-reaching effects.

• People must protect the world surrounding them.

• Old traditions may offer surprising wisdom.

• People can use their talents to invent something new.

Multiple Choice

Read this sentence from paragraph 5 of the selection “Trees Rise in the Desert.”

Slowly over the years, many of those who laughed at their neighbor have now joined him.

Which sentence from the selection “A Legacy of Stone” illustrates a similar idea?

• Forty-three-year-old Cheval continued collecting stones along his route for almost 20 years. (paragraph 4)

• At night he labored by the light of an oil lamp. (paragraph 5)

• But as his palace took shape, people’s criticisms were replaced by awed respect. (paragraph 6)

• Cheval’s uniqueness helped him single-handedly create a marvel beyond duplication. (paragraph 9)