"The People of the Land and Sea" A3K Article

The article states:

In the 1700s, White landowners wanted to grow rice, but they didn't know how. They decided to profit from the expertise of farmers on West Africa's "Rice Coast."

The author's purpose for writing this passage was to __________.

• A.

  suggest that White landowners wanted to establish a relationship with the West African rice farmers that would benefit both groups

• B.

  demonstrate that the Gullah Geechee's ancestors knew little about farming the crops grown in the coastal areas of the U.S.

• C.

  explain why the Gullah Geechee's ancestors were kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved in the U.S.

• D.

  compare the types of crops grown in the coastal areas of the U.S. to those found in West Africa

Which passage from the article best supports the belief that living away from the mainland may have benefitted the early Gullah Geechee people?

• A.

  …White landowners abandoned their rice plantations. But the Gullah Geechee people stayed.

• B.

  The work was dangerous and difficult, but they labored and lived together, forging close-knit communities.

• C.

  Goodwine is a leader of the Gullah Geechee people. They are a group of Black Americans who live in the Sea Islands and coastal areas from North Carolina to Florida.

• D.

  …these West Africans had less interaction with White households. It was therefore easier for them to maintain their customs, beliefs, language, and artistry and pass them down.

What cause-and-effect relationship is described in this article?

• A.

  Because of alligators, venomous snakes, and other dangers, tourism and land values on the Sea Islands have declined.

• B.

  Because the elevation of the Sea Islands is so low, the Gullah Geechee farmers spread out to farm other coastal areas.

• C.

  Because the handcrafted sweetgrass baskets of the Gullah Geechee people were once used in harvesting rice, they are now prized works of art.

• D.

  Because they lived and worked together, the Gullah Geechee farmers developed a new language based on English and various African languages.

The article states:

She has a strong connection to her land, culture, and forebearers. Goodwine is a leader of the Gullah Geechee people…. For centuries, the Gullah Geechee people have cultivated a distinctive culture. It's closely tied to the heritage of their African ancestors.

Which phrase from the passage provides context clues for the meaning of the word forebearers?

• A.

  cultivated a distinctive culture

• B.

  their African ancestors

• C.

  has a strong connection

• D.

  leader of the Gullah Geechee people

Based on information in the article, which best describes how life on the Sea Islands before and after the Civil War differed?

• A.

  Before the Civil War, the Gullah Geechee farmers were enslaved workers, but after the war, some of them became landowners.

• B.

  Before the Civil War, the Gullah Geechee people developed their own language, but after the war, they spoke only English.

• C.

  Before the Civil War, the Gullah Geechee people kept in close contact with the mainland, but after the war, they chose to isolate themselves.

• D.

  Before the Civil War, the Gullah Geechee farmers planted a variety of crops, but after the war, they grew only rice.

The reader can tell from the article that __________.

• A.

  White plantation owners abandoned their plantations because rice had become less profitable

• B.

  without the enslaved West Africans, the White landowners would not have been successful in farming rice

• C.

  the methods used to grow rice on the Sea Islands changed how the crop was grown on the "Rice Coast"

• D.

  Gullah Geechee people maintain their language and traditions because it attracts tourists

Which best summarizes the last paragraph of the article?

• A.

  Marquetta Goodwine told ABC News that "the ocean may be coming."

• B.

  The Gullah Geechee people are determined to overcome threats to their land and culture.

• C.

  Climate change can result in rising sea levels, which is a problem for low elevations.

• D.

  Marquetta Goodwine considers the Gullah Geechee to be "people of the sea."

Which is the closest synonym for the word distinctive, as it is used in the article?

• A.

  unique

• B.

  official

• C.

  antique

• D.

  practical