The Late Troubles at Salem
Authored by Rebecca Leake
English
8th Grade
CCSS covered
Used 265+ times
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This quiz focuses on reading comprehension and critical analysis of a nonfiction text about the Salem witch trials, specifically examining their conclusion and aftermath. The material is appropriate for 8th grade students, as it requires sophisticated analytical skills including identifying main ideas, supporting evidence, author's purpose, and the role of specific textual elements in developing themes. Students must demonstrate mastery of close reading techniques, the ability to connect textual evidence to broader concepts, and skills in making connections between historical events and contemporary issues. The questions assess both literal comprehension and higher-order thinking, requiring students to analyze how authors develop arguments, evaluate the relationship between cause and effect, and synthesize information to form personal connections and judgments about justice, power, and social responsibility. Created by Rebecca Leake, an English teacher in the US who teaches grade 8. This comprehensive assessment tool serves multiple instructional purposes, functioning effectively as a formative assessment after students complete the assigned reading, as homework to reinforce textual analysis skills, or as a discussion starter for deeper exploration of themes related to justice and historical parallels. The quiz combines multiple-choice questions that test specific comprehension skills with open-ended response questions that encourage personal reflection and critical thinking, making it ideal for differentiated instruction and accommodating various learning styles. The assessment aligns with Common Core standards including CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.1 for citing textual evidence, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.2 for determining central ideas, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.6 for analyzing author's purpose, and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.8 for evaluating arguments, while also supporting social studies connections through historical analysis and civic engagement discussions.
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8 questions
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1.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
2 mins • 1 pt
PART A: Which statement identifies the main idea of the text?
The only thing that prompted Salem to stop its witch hunts was a fear that God would punish them for their actions.
It took outside influence for the people of Salem to realize that there were no, nor had there ever been, any witches in Salem.
People eventually realized that witch trials were unfair and had punished innocent people.
Despite the deaths and damages that took place because of the witch trials, the courts of Salem stood by their actions.
Tags
CCSS.RI.8.2
CCSS.RI.7.2
CCSS.RL.7.2
CCSS.RL.6.2
CCSS.RL.8.2
2.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
2 mins • 1 pt
PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
(PART A: Which statement identifies the main idea of the text? )
“By the end of September 1692, 20 people in Massachusetts Bay were dead by order of the Court of Oyer and Terminer.” (Paragraph 1)
“Pointing out how families had been ruined by the court’s irresponsible pursuit of witches, he wondered if people would someday ‘not look upon these things without the greatest of sorrow and grief imaginable.’” (Paragraph 4)
“Although some restitution was eventually made to the families of the executed and accused, the damage to lives was far reaching.” (Paragraph 9)
“Once they were freed, they went back to living with neighbors, or in some cases with family members, who had accused them of being witches.” (Paragraph 9)
Tags
CCSS.RI.8.2
CCSS.RI.7.2
CCSS.RL.7.2
CCSS.RL.7.1
CCSS.RL.8.1
3.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
2 mins • 1 pt
Which of the following describes the author’s main purpose in the text?
to point out the courage of the people who had been accused of being witches
to provide information about what caused the witch trials to take place
to show what eventually brought the witch trials to an end and what happened afterward
to reveal how the town of Salem was able to recover from the witch trials
Tags
CCSS.RI.8.6
CCSS.RI.7.6
CCSS.RI.8.9
CCSS.RL.7.6
CCSS.RL.8.6
4.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
2 mins • 1 pt
How does Reverend Samuel Willard’s fictitious argument contribute to the development of ideas in the text (Paragraph 3)?
It emphasizes how unjust and backwards the witch trials were in Salem
It reveals how it was impossible not to be put to death as a witch in Salem.
It proves that the courts were never actually looking for witches in Salem.
It shows how Salem was one of the few towns that believed in supernatural forces.
Tags
CCSS.RI.8.2
CCSS.RI.8.6
CCSS.RI.8.1
CCSS.RI.8.3
CCSS.RI.8.8
5.
OPEN ENDED QUESTION
5 mins • Ungraded
What is the relationship between the people of Salem’s religion and their eventual feelings of regret over the trials?
Evaluate responses using AI:
OFF
Tags
CCSS.RL.7.9
CCSS.RL.8.9
6.
OPEN ENDED QUESTION
5 mins • Ungraded
The Salem witch trials were unfair. Can you think of any modern examples of unfairness with the justice system? What are the consequences of having an unfair justice system in a society?
Evaluate responses using AI:
OFF
Tags
CCSS.RI. 9-10.7
CCSS.RI.8.7
CCSS.RL.7.7
CCSS.RL.8.5
CCSS.RL.8.7
7.
OPEN ENDED QUESTION
5 mins • Ungraded
Have you ever been unfairly accused of doing something wrong? What happened? Or have you ever unfairly accused someone of doing something wrong? What happened?
Evaluate responses using AI:
OFF
Tags
CCSS.RI.2.1
CCSS.RI.3.1
CCSS.RL.1.1
CCSS.RL.2.1
CCSS.RL.3.1
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