Life and Expansion in the U.S.

Based on paragraph 2, what can the reader conclude about frontier homes?

• They were well-built and protected settlers from the elements.

• They were simple structures that offered minimal comfort.

• They were designed to hold large families and livestock.

• They were made from materials imported from other regions.

Answer explanation

Paragraph 2 indicates that frontier homes were basic and lacked many comforts, supporting the conclusion that they were simple structures that offered minimal comfort.

How does the organization of the selection contribute to the author’s purpose?

• By explaining challenges first, it highlights the difficulty of frontier life.

• By emphasizing community bonds, it shows the positives of frontier life.

• By describing how settlers adapted, it showcases their resilience.

• By listing hardships, it argues against settling on the frontier.

Answer explanation

By explaining challenges first, the author effectively highlights the difficulty of frontier life, setting a tone that emphasizes the struggles faced by settlers in their pursuit of a new life.

Based on the information in paragraph 3, why was westward expansion important for the U.S. government?

• It allowed the country to strengthen its economy through trade with Europe.

• It helped prevent foreign powers from claiming land in North America.

• It encouraged immigration from other countries.

• It provided the military with new training grounds.

Answer explanation

Westward expansion was crucial for the U.S. government as it helped prevent foreign powers from claiming land in North America, ensuring territorial integrity and sovereignty.

What is the main claim of the article?

• Expansion was necessary for the U.S. to compete economically and politically.

• The costs of expansion outweighed the benefits to the nation.

• Expansion was primarily about the spread of cultural traditions.

• The U.S. government opposed expansion at the time.

Answer explanation

The article argues that expansion was essential for the U.S. to enhance its economic and political standing globally, making this the main claim. Other options do not capture the primary focus of the article.

How does the author support the claim that expansion provided economic opportunities?

• By describing how the U.S. secured its borders.

• By listing resources settlers gained from new territories.

• By explaining the role of Manifest Destiny.

• By comparing the U.S. to foreign powers.

Answer explanation

The author supports the claim by listing resources settlers gained from new territories, illustrating how expansion created economic opportunities through access to land, minerals, and other valuable assets.

How do the authors of "Life on the Frontier" and "Why the United States Needed to Expand" differ in their purposes for writing? Use evidence from both texts to support your answer.

• "Life on the Frontier" focuses on the daily challenges of settlers, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" explains the broader reasons behind westward expansion.

• "Life on the Frontier" argues for expansion, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" describes the negative consequences of Manifest Destiny.

• Both texts aim to show the hardships of westward expansion but from different perspectives.

• "Life on the Frontier" highlights economic opportunities, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" emphasizes cultural impacts.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that "Life on the Frontier" emphasizes the settlers' daily struggles, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" provides a broader context for the reasons behind westward expansion.

How do the structures of "Life on the Frontier" and "Why the United States Needed to Expand" differ, and how does this impact the reader’s understanding of westward expansion?

• "Life on the Frontier" uses a descriptive structure to detail settlers’ experiences, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" employs a cause-and-effect structure to explain the motivations behind expansion.

• "Life on the Frontier" uses a chronological structure to describe settlers’ lives, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" uses a problem-solution structure to propose solutions to the challenges of growth.

• Both texts use a narrative structure, but one focuses on personal stories and the other on historical events.

• "Life on the Frontier" and "Why the United States Needed to Expand" both use a persuasive structure to argue for the benefits of westward expansion.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that "Life on the Frontier" uses a descriptive structure to convey settlers' experiences, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" uses a cause-and-effect structure to clarify the reasons for expansion.

What evidence from "Why the United States Needed to Expand" supports the idea that expansion was seen as necessary for the nation’s survival, and how does this compare to the reasons settlers moved west in "Life on the Frontier"?

• "Why the United States Needed to Expand" argues that territorial growth would protect borders, while "Life on the Frontier" highlights the need for individual families to find new land for farming.

• "Why the United States Needed to Expand" emphasizes the spread of democracy, while "Life on the Frontier" focuses on the pursuit of cultural independence.

• Both texts argue that expansion was essential, but one highlights national security while the other focuses on community building.

• Both texts cite economic motivations, but one focuses on industries while the other emphasizes agriculture.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that "Why the United States Needed to Expand" emphasizes national security through territorial growth, while "Life on the Frontier" focuses on families seeking new farmland, showing different motivations for expansion.

What challenges are emphasized in "Life on the Frontier" that are not addressed in "Why the United States Needed to Expand," and how do these differences reflect the authors' perspectives?

• "Life on the Frontier" highlights personal hardships like harsh weather and isolation, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" focuses on political and economic challenges.

• "Life on the Frontier" describes conflicts with Native American tribes, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" avoids mentioning any conflicts.

• "Life on the Frontier" focuses on overcoming daily survival challenges, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" addresses national strategies for growth.

• "Life on the Frontier" explores the emotional struggles of settlers, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" details technological advancements.

Answer explanation

The correct choice emphasizes that "Life on the Frontier" focuses on personal hardships like harsh weather and isolation, contrasting with "Why the United States Needed to Expand," which addresses broader political and economic challenges.

Both articles discuss westward expansion, but how do the themes of opportunity and sacrifice differ between "Life on the Frontier" and "Why the United States Needed to Expand"?

• "Life on the Frontier" emphasizes individual sacrifice for family survival, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" highlights national sacrifice for greater economic growth.

• Both articles focus on the benefits of opportunity but differ in tone, with "Life on the Frontier" being more optimistic and "Why the United States Needed to Expand" being critical.

• "Life on the Frontier" discusses opportunities on a personal level, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" addresses them from a national perspective.

• Both articles explore sacrifice, but only "Why the United States Needed to Expand" mentions the impact on Native American tribes.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that "Life on the Frontier" focuses on personal opportunities, while "Why the United States Needed to Expand" discusses opportunities from a national perspective, showcasing differing themes of opportunity.