from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions” from A Distant M

According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” what major factors contributed to the Peasants’ Revolt? Choose three options.

• opposition to the king

• enforced service to one’s lord

• high prices in the market place

• frequent assessment of poll taxes

• lack of freedom to live where one wanted

As explained in the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” which of the following best characterizes the laborers’ actions on their march toward London?

• rational and logcal

• cautious yet hopeful

• destructive and violent

• efficient but misunderstood

According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” which of the following factors most convinced the peasants that the time was ripe to demand social reform?

• A rise in literacy had begun, encouraging peasants to think for themselves.

• The entire system of authority had proved itself to be weak, incompetent, and untrustworthy.

• A series of bills passed in Parliament led the peasants to think that a new era of freedom had arrived.

• The French peasants had recently provided an example of a successful rebellion against an oppressive government.

According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” why did Richard II and his government grant the charters presented by the peasants?

• to show that they were willing to negotiate in good faith with the peasants

• to acquire evidence that they later could use against the peasants in court

• to examine the peasants’ demands and see which ones might be granted

• to trick the peasants into ending their rebellion and going home

According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” what was Wat Tyler’s ultimate goal?

• to gain freedom of movement for the villeins

• to found a new state religion with himself as its head

• to take over the government of England as the new ruler

• to declare war on France and lead a peasant army against the French

Which of the following is the best definition of animosity?

• puzzlement and confusion

• hostility and dislike

• faith and devotion

• reason and logic

Which of the following sentences best illustrates the meaning of provoke?

• Tarik was such a wonderful cook that we were delighted to get his invitation to dinner.

• Angela used her leadership ability to organize the group into an efficient team.

• Unpopular new school rules inspired Jeremy to organize a student protest.

• Music lessons were a challenge to Jade, but she refused to quit.

Which of the following is the best example of a demagogue?

• a leader who speaks for the people

• a leader who misuses his or her powers

• a leader who fills a position temporarily

• a leader who is chosen on a hereditary basis

… [A]ll officialdom was [the peasants’] foe … but most especially men of the law because the law was the villeins’ prison.

What does she mean by calling the law “the villeins’ prison”?

• Lawyers had thrown all of the villeins into jail.

• Villeins had only limited legal representation in court.

• Existing laws were fairer to villeins than to urban workers.

• Existing laws robbed villeins of several basic human rights.

Which of the following statements best describes John Ball’s argument about the status of the peasants, according to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions”?

• He argued that all people are born equal, so they should live as equals.

• He argued that the powerful class does not make good use of its wealth.

• He argued that a hereditary monarchy is an ignoble form of government.

• He argued that because laborers do the work, they should control the profits.

Answer explanation

The sentence that best supports this answer from the text is: “Matters cannot go well in England,” was his theme, “until all things shall be held in common; when there shall be neither vassals nor lords, when the lords shall be no more masters than ourselves.… Are we not all descended from the same parents, Adam and Eve?”