Origin Myths

“The Earth on Turtle's Back,” “When Grizzlies Walked Upright,” and The Navajo Origin Legend are origin myths. What are origin myths? 

• a. stories about talking animals 
•  b. stories about ancient people 
• c. stories that explain how life began
• d. stories that explain the present day

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

“The Earth on Turtle's Back” tells how something came to exist. What is it that grew on Turtle's back?

• the sky
• the earth
• the sea
• the woman

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

From reading “The Earth on Turtle's Back,” you can tell that the Onondaga value certain things in their culture. Which two of these items do they value?
I animals
II clouds
III riches
IV dreams

• I & III
• II & IV
• II & III
• I & IV

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

What part of the natural world is explained by “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”?

• how the earth came to be
• how Indians came to be
• how snow came to be
• how ice came to be

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

According to “When Grizzlies Walked Upright,” why do the Modocs never kill grizzly bears?

• The grizzlies are their ancestors.
• The grizzlies are endangered. 
• The grizzlies are magical.
• The grizzlies are too fierce.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

Which of the following would be a good title for the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend?

• Gods of Corn
• The Wind GIves Life
• The Feather of Life
• Corn and Buckskin

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

In The Navajo Origin Legend, the ears of corn are laid out facing east and west. What part of the natural world does this arrangement represent?

• the shapes of the moon
• the mirages of the desert
• the rising and setting of the sun
• the direction of the wind

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

What does The Navajo Origin Legend describe?

• the first marriage
• the first corn crop
• the creation of the gods
• the creation of the wind

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

In which sentence is the meaning of the word protruded best described?

• The Sky Spirit's daughter stuck her head up above the smoke hole.
• The Woman from the Sky fell through the hole left by the Great Tree.
• The grizzlies raised the girl as if she were one of their own cubs.
• The First Man and the First Woman were created from ears of corn.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which of the following is a true statement about a myth?

• Myths are usually about everyday people and their daily lives.
• All myths attempt to explain the origin of earthly life.
• Myths often feature immortal beings.
• Myths rarely convey cultural values.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.8.9