The Liberty Bell

What event were the representatives of the American people gathered to take final action upon on July 4th, 1776?

• Signing of the Declaration of Independence

• Ratification of the Constitution

• End of the Revolutionary War

• Inauguration of George Washington

What was the mood in the city on the morning before Congress assembled?

• Calm and expectant

• Tense and anxious

• Indifferent and uninterested

• Joyful and celebratory

What is the meaning of the word "momentous" as used in the sentence below? "All business was forgotten in the momentous crisis that the country had now reached."

• Uncertain

• Unimportant

• Of great importance

• Easy to solve

What does the word "proclaim" most likely mean in the sentence below? "Around the bell, brought from England, had been cast, more than twenty years before, the prophetic motto: 'Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof.'"

• Whisper

• Announce publicly

• Hide

What is the meaning of the word 'jovial'?

• Sad

• Happy

• Angry

• Confused

Based on the passage, what is the meaning of the word "electrified" in the sentence below? "The melancholy bellman, electrified into life by the jovial news, seized the iron tongue, and hurled it backward and forward with a clang that startled every heart in Philadelphia like a bugle blast."

• Shocked physically

• Excited or energized

• Made of electricity

• Frightened

What is the future of America according to the passage?

• The future of America was bright and certain.

• The future of America was uncertain and awaited a decision.

• The land itself was shaking.

• The people had already made their decision.

What is the meaning of the word "sentinel" in the sentence below? "The boy-sentinel turned to the belfry, clapped his hands, and shouted, 'Ring! Ring!'"

• Guard

• Messenger

• Enemy

• Leader

What does the word "melancholy" most likely mean in the sentence below? "The melancholy bellman, electrified into life by the jovial news, seized the iron tongue, and hurled it backward and forward with a clang that startled every heart in Philadelphia like a bugle blast."

• Angry

• Excited

• Sad

• Joyful

What does the phrase "prophetic motto" imply in the context of the passage?

• A motto predicting future events

• A motto that is difficult to understand

• A motto that is humorous

• A motto that is irrelevant