The Race Against Death

Why was transportation to Nome nearly impossible during the winter of 1925?

• Modern modes of transportation, like jet planes, truck or ships that can navigate through ice, didn't exist.

• There were no roads or trails going to Nome.

• Railroads were blocked by an avalanche

• Gas stations were out of gas.

Which statement best describes the section “A Deadly Outbreak”?

• The author lists several causes of the diphtheria outbreak in Nome

• The author compares and contrasts Nome, Alaska to other parts of Alaska.

• The author describes the diphtheria outbreak in Nome and then explains how the problem could be solved

• The author gives a chronological account of the dogsled race to Nome

In the beginning of the story, why didn't Dr. Welch have diphtheria medicine?

• Everyone had already been vaccinated.

• Dr. Welch didn't think he'd need medicine

• The medicine order had been lost.

• People of Nome didn't want the medicine

The authors develop the idea that diphtheria is dangerous in each of the following ways EXCEPT

• by explaining that there was a vaccine for diphtheria

• by explaining how diphtheria spreads from person to person

• by listing the possible complications that diphtheria can cause

• by including a statistic about how many people were killed by diphtheria each year

How do the authors characterize the mushers?

• easygoing and friendly

• determined and resilient

• helpless and lonely

• hopeful and stubborn

On page 9, the authors write, "In Nome, the crisis was becoming graver by the hour." Context clues reveal that in this sentence, grave most closely means

• serious

• lively

• unlucky

• encouraging

Which detail would be LEAST important to include in a summary of the article?

• The mushers made the trip to Nome in only six days

• Leonhard Seppala had to take a shortcut across the frozen Norton Sound

• Nome, Alaska is difficult to reach in the winter because of its remote location

• Diphtheria is a highly contagious and dangerous disease

Information about how many children were saved by the delivery of the antitoxin to Nome would best fit into which section of the article?

• "A Single Push"

• "The Final Musher"

• "A Deadly Outbreak"

• "Super Mushers"