Inventions and Adaptations on the Great Plains

What was one of the main benefits of using barbed wire for settlers on the Great Plains?

• It was more decorative than other fences.

• It was easier and cheaper to build than fences made of wood or stones.

• It was more difficult to install than other types of fences.

• It required frequent maintenance.

What material is barbed wire made of?

• Twisted steel wires

• Wooden planks

• Plastic strings

• Stone blocks

What was barbed wire strung between?

• Metal poles

• Wooden fence posts

• Stone walls

• Plastic stakes

How did the steel plow impact farming on the Great Plains?

• It made farming more difficult

• It had no impact

• It made farming easier

• It stopped farming altogether

What was one use of the water supplied by windmills?

• To power factories

• To irrigate crops

• To build roads

• To wash clothes

What did windmills help settlers create for their herds?

• Barns

• Green pastures

• Fences

• Roads

What was a major benefit of the transcontinental railroad for new businesses?

• It provided entertainment.

• It offered transportation for goods.

• It was a source of water.

• It was a tourist attraction.

What material did settlers use to build their homes on the Great Plains?

• Wood

• Brick

• Sod

• Stone

What characteristic of sod made it suitable for building homes?

• It was waterproof

• It was lightweight

• It contained long grass roots

• It was colorful

What did settlers use to form the walls and roofs of their homes?

• Metal sheets

• Flexible "bricks" made of sod

• Wooden planks

• Stone slabs