Salem Memorializes Those Killed During Witch Trials

PART A: Which statement identifies the central idea of the text?

• The memorial makes it difficult for the city of Salem to move on from its painful and violent history.

• The memorial helps the city of Salem and the descendants of the wrongly accused remember those who died.

• Descendants of the accused see the memorial as an apology from Salem for what was done to their ancestors

• Descendants of the accused feel like they can finally move on and forget about this painful moment in history.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Andrea Shea of member station WBUR attended the ceremony at Proctor's Ledge and said Salem residents and descendants of those killed gathered to pay their respects.” (Paragraph 3)

• “‘We should not be here today. We should not be here dedicating this memorial and setting aside this small patch of rocky earth’” (Paragraph 4)

• “A single oak tree stands at the center, the city says, as a ‘symbol of endurance and dignity.’” (Paragraph 5)

• “‘All 19 who were executed through a hanging died at Proctor's Ledge. Five others died in jail, and one was crushed to death’” (Paragraph 9)

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

What is the author’s main purpose in the text?

• to explain how researchers found the site where the witches were put on trial and hanged

• to suggest to readers that they likely are, or know, a descendant of someone affected by the Salem witch trials

• to provide students with historical information about the Salem witch trials and how they took place

• to describe the memorial and what it means to Salem and the descendants of the accused

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.6