The Oregon Trail: A Journey Westward

Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

• The Oregon Trail was a dangerous journey that helped expand the United States.

• Many people got sick while traveling on the Oregon Trail.

• Pioneers traveled west because they wanted to explore new places.

• The Oregon Trail was an easy way to reach new land.

How did forts along the Oregon Trail help pioneers? (TEKS 4.9.D.i – Cause & Effect)

• They were used to store gold and silver.

• They provided a place for pioneers to rest and get supplies.

• They were dangerous places where pioneers were often attacked.

• They marked the end of the Oregon Trail.

Why was the Oregon Trail important in American history?

• It helped pioneers travel west and settle new lands.

• It kept people from moving to new places.

• It was the first road built in the United States.

• It was a trail that only Native Americans used.

Which statement is true about the Oregon Trail?

• The trail started in Texas and ended in California.

• The trail passed through Missouri, Unorganized Territory, and Oregon Country.

• The trail was used to transport gold from Oregon to Missouri.

• The trail was only used after the United States took over all the land.

The author most likely wrote this passage to— (TEKS 4.10.A – Author’s Purpose)

• Persuade people to travel the Oregon Trail.

• Entertain the reader with a funny story about pioneers.

• Inform the reader about the challenges and importance of the Oregon Trail.

• Describe how pioneers built homes once they arrived in Oregon.