John Henry - reading comprehension

John Henry was​ ​ (a)  

• very big.
• very small.
• very sad.

Answer explanation

John Henry was a giant of a man.

He was born in Virginia.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Some say he was born in Virginia. Some say Carolina or Alabama. It seems like every state wants to lay claim to John Henry. 

What picture describes steel driving best?

• 
• 
• 

He was a slave all his life.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

He was born into slavery in the 1840s but was freed after the Civil War.

The work was ___ .

• dangerous and back-breaking

• dangerous but fun

• easy and well-paid

• boring and back-breaking

And the tunnel might advance only ​ (a)   a day! 

• 10 feet
• 10 meters
• 100 feet
• 1000 feet

Answer explanation

And the tunnel might advance only 10 feet a day! 

It was more than ​ (a)   through that mountain. The men of the C&O were going to drill right through the heart of it by hand. 

• a mile
• a kilometer

It took one year to get through Big Bend. None of the workers lost their lives.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

It took three long years to get through Big Bend. As many as a thousand workers lost their lives.

How heavy was John Henry's hammer?

• 9 pounds

• 14 pounds

• 20 pounds

• We don't know.

Answer explanation

Some say he swung a 9-pound hammer. Some say it was 14 pounds or even 20 pounds!

The story is about John Henry against the machine!

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The story is told that one day a salesman showed up at John Henry's camp. He had with him a steam-powered drill. He said it could outdrill any man. Those were fighting words to John Henry. They set up a contest: John Henry against the machine!