Gold Reading Street

1.)What is the meaning of the word diverted as it is used in paragraph 1? (7.4)

• A blocked

• B evaporated

• C redirected

• D reduced

2. How does paragraph 1 contribute to the development of ideas in the passage? (7.5)

• A It shows that James Marshall is levelheaded and hardworking.

• B It shows that James Marshall is spontaneous and curious.

• C It shows that James Marshall is trusting and easily distracted.

• D It shows that James Marshall is uncertain and unobservant.

3. How does the structure of paragraph 3 contribute to the development of ideas in the passage? (7.5)

• A The cause and effect structure clarifies why it was an easy decision for people to leave behind difficult farm work in hopes of finding gold.

• B The chronological structure outlines the impact the gold rush had on the production of crops and other necessary mining tools.

• C The compare/contrast structure emphasizes the positive effects of the gold rush and the negative effects on the crops and businesses abandoned.

• D The descriptive structure offers a picture of the gold mining process and the responsibilities of running a successful business.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage? (7.6)

• A to clarify the ease with which gold could be mined

• B to condemn the choices of the men who thoughtlessly chased dreams

• C to describe the lure of the gold rush and explain the effect on that which was left behind

• D to present an overview of the different mining sites that have become parks

5. How does the author develop the idea of the bustling towns during the gold rush? (7.3)

• A by highlighting the number of people who were drawn to the gold mines in comparison to the present-day deserted remains

• B by describing the disappointments many miners experienced due to the overcrowding and lack of gold

• C by explaining the types of equipment successful gold miners used

• D by outlining the paths that the most profitable miners took in their missions for gold

6. What choice states two central ideas of the passage? (7.2)

• A Merchants took advantage of the miners who had traveled so far from their homes; the Indian population in California increased dramatically during the three-year period of the gold rush.

• B Mining was an important opportunity for many Americans that unfortunately resulted in neglected crops and businesses in the cities they had vacated; because of their economic influences on our country, mines have been preserved as landmarks for today’s citizens to visit and explore.

• C There were very few gold mines that resulted in successful expeditions for the miners; James Marshall was an effective leader for his crew of workers.

• D John Sutter’s land grant helped start a mining boom but almost ruined the farming business he had started years before; the rush of people to the western part of the country resulted in a decline in the economic well-being of the cities on the East Coast.

7. Which choice supports the inference that the gold rush did not have entirely positive results? (7.1)

• A “During the previous night, Marshall had diverted water through the mill’s tailrace to wash away loose dirt and gravel, and on that fateful day, he noticed some shining flecks of metal left behind by the running water.” (paragraph 1)

• B “At the time of Marshall’s discovery, the state’s non-Indian population numbered about 14,000. By the end of 1849, it had risen to nearly 100,000, and it continued to swell to some 250,000 by 1852.” (paragraph 2)

• C “The mining boom that Captain John Sutter himself set in motion nearly destroyed his Nuevo Helvetia agricultural empire headquartered at Sutter’s Fort.” (paragraph 5)

• D “In combination, the Mother Lode and the Klamath gold fields produced the modern-day equivalent of more than $25 billion in gold before the turn of the century, with operations continuing at Empire Mine until as late as 1956.” (paragraph 6)

8. Which claim about commercial businesses is supported by relevant and sufficient evidence? (7.8)

• A The businesses were financially successful due to the abundance of miners arriving into the region.

• B The business owners raised prices to maximize their profits.

• C The newly established businesses could not keep up with the demands for mining tools.

• D The highly successful business owners encouraged risks among other potential business owners.

9.What does the word remnant mean as it is used in paragraph 10? (7.4)

• A quantity

• B remains

• C residue

• D scrap

This question was NOT on the worksheet. However, you likely discussed this in your group.

Which words BEST helped you to characterize Marshall and answer question #2?

• "fateful day"

• "customary" and "still concerned"

• "truly impossible" and "finished"

• "famous" and "his crew"