The World on the Turtle's Back

What does this creation myth explain about the Iroquois dance rituals?

• Iroquois dance to worship the moon.

• They dance in the same direction as the sun to honor the creation of the earth.

• The muskrat created the first dance.

• Only twins are allowed to dance.

The twins' creations in this myth tell you that Iroquois culture

• believes in a balance in nature

• bases its rituals on deer meat

• respects the porcupine the most

• wishes more medicines were made

The Iroquois use the ideas in this myth to...

• explain how natural phenomena came to be

• explain why animals are important to people

• describe the joys of human relationships

• explain why people use different hands

Read paragraph 38 of the selection.

"In the daytime, the people have rituals which honor the right-handed twin. Through the
daytime rituals, they thank the Master of Life. In the nighttime, the people dance and sing
for the left-handed twin."

This paragraph suggests that the Iroquois people —

• believe in the existence of good and evil

• respect the balance of nature

• fear possibilities of danger at night

• revere one twin over the other

The first event of "The World on the Turtle's Back" is--

• The twins decide they must duel to settle their conflict.

• The twins are born and their mother dies.

• The woman falls through the hole in the sky.

• The muskrat retrieves a bit of dirt from the bottom of the ocean.

• The right-handed twin kills the grandmother

The second event of "The World on the Turtle's Back" is--

• The twins decide they must duel to settle their conflict.

• The twins are born and their mother dies.

• The woman falls through the hole in the sky.

• The muskrat retrieves a bit of dirt from the bottom of the ocean.

• The right-handed twin kills the grandmother

The third event of "The World on the Turtle's Back" is--

• The twins decide they must duel to settle their conflict.

• The twins are born and their mother dies.

• The woman falls through the hole in the sky.

• The muskrat retrieves a bit of dirt from the bottom of the ocean.

• The right-handed twin kills the grandmother

The fourth event of "The World on the Turtle's Back" is--

• The twins decide they must duel to settle their conflict.

• The twins are born and their mother dies.

• The woman falls through the hole in the sky.

• The muskrat retrieves a bit of dirt from the bottom of the ocean.

• The right-handed twin kills the grandmother

The fifth event of "The World on the Turtle's Back" is--

• The twins decide they must duel to settle their conflict.

• The twins are born and their mother dies.

• The woman falls through the hole in the sky.

• The muskrat retrieves a bit of dirt from the bottom of the ocean.

• The right-handed twin kills the grandmother

The Iroquois use the ideas in this myth to —

• explain how the earth and its inhabitants came to be

• describe why animals are important to people

• explain the complexities of human relationships

• describe the reasons people use different hands