"The Three-Century Woman" and "The Fall of the Hindenburg" Quiz

In lines 1-5, the great-grandmother describes her journey on the Hindenburg. Which traditional narrative element is most similar to her experience of a journey with an unexpected event?

• A character's ordinary day

• A hero's quest with a sudden challenge

• A peaceful voyage without conflict

• A detailed historical account

Answer explanation

• This question requires you to recognize the "journey" element in the passage and compare it to traditional narratives.

• "A hero's quest with a sudden challenge" is the best fit because it highlights the "sudden challenge" (the Hindenburg explosion), which disrupts the journey, similar to challenges in a hero's quest.

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CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

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The story of the Hindenburg's explosion has been told many times through various sources. How does great-grandma's account in this passage draw on a common theme found in survival stories?

• It focuses on the technical details of the Hindenburg.

• It emphasizes the historical significance of the event.

• It highlights a first-person perspective of chaos and survival.

• It presents a calm and detached view of the disaster.

Answer explanation

• This question asks students to identify a common theme in "survival stories" and how it's used in the passage.

• "It highlights a first-person perspective of chaos and survival" is correct because the passage provides a first-person account of the chaos ("gondola heated up," "people peeled out of the windows") and the great-grandma's survival ("I walked out and kept going").

In lines 4-5, great-grandma describes the Hindenburg explosion. Which traditional story element is reflected in this description?

• The use of hyperbole to describe an event.

• A peaceful resolution to a conflict.

• The detailed account of a historical event.

• The theme of overcoming a destructive force.

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CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

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Using the previous passage (excerpt 1) and this one (excerpt 2), answer this question:

Both Excerpt 1 and Excerpt 2 describe the Hindenburg disaster. Which of the following literary devices, drawn from traditional storytelling, is most evident in Excerpt 1?

• Objective reporting, focusing solely on factual details and avoiding personal perspectives.

• The use of hyperbole to exaggerate the events and create a fantastical atmosphere.

• First-person narrative to convey the chaos and emotional impact of a catastrophic event.

• A detached, third-person point of view that summarizes the events without emotional investment.

Answer explanation

• "First-person narrative to convey the chaos and emotional impact of a catastrophic event," is correct because Excerpt 1 uses a first-person narrative ("I was wearing...", "We hit...", "I walked...") to show the chaos and emotional impact of the event.

• The other answers are incorrect because they misrepresent the excerpt.

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CCSS.RI.7.7

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Using the two the first passage (excerpt 1) and the new one (excerpt 2), answer the following the question:

Both excerpts describe the Hindenburg disaster, but they emphasize different aspects of the event. Which of the following traditional storytelling themes is most evident in Excerpt 2's account?

• The personal reflections of a journey.

• The tragic downfall of a magnificent creation.

• The power of human memory to preserve history.

• The use of humor to cope with a difficult experience.

Answer explanation

• "The tragic downfall of a magnificent creation," is the strongest choice. Excerpt 2 describes the Hindenburg as a "majestic ship" that turns into a "ball of flames", highlighting the tragic downfall of something magnificent, a common theme in traditional stories and myths (e.g., the fall of Icarus).  

• The other options are not the primary emphasis of Excerpt 2.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

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Using both excerpts, answer the question below:

Both excerpts tell the story of the Hindenburg disaster. Which element, commonly found in traditional oral storytelling, is most evident in Excerpt 1?

• The use of a first-person perspective to create a vivid and personal account.

• Detailed technical specifications of a vehicle.

• Exaggerated statistics to emphasize the size of the Hindenburg.

• Objective reporting focused solely on confirmed facts and figures.

Answer explanation

• "The use of a first-person perspective to create a vivid and personal account," is correct. Excerpt 1 uses "I" and "we" to give a vivid personal account, which is common in oral storytelling.

• The other options do not accurately describe Excerpt 1.

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CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

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Which statement best identifies a theme present in this passage?

• The destructive power of technological advancements.

• The importance of remaining calm in the face of disaster.

• The way personal experience shapes the memory of historical events.

• The celebration of human ingenuity and engineering feats.

Answer explanation

• "The way personal experience shapes the memory of historical events," is the most accurate. The passage focuses on the great-grandma's personal recollections and how her memory frames the event ("My husband was dead by then. It was some other man...").

• The other options are themes that are not the primary focus of the passage.

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CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

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Both excerpts present information about the Hindenburg disaster. Which theme is conveyed in BOTH excerpts?

• The inevitability of technological progress.

• The contrast between beauty and destruction.

• The enduring power of human memory.

• The importance of scientific investigation.

Answer explanation

• "The contrast between beauty and destruction," is the strongest choice. Both excerpts highlight the contrast between the initial grandeur or normalcy of the Hindenburg and its sudden, violent destruction. Excerpt 1: ("It was smooth as silk…Then whoosh! The gondola heated..."). Excerpt 2: ("The majestic ship turned into a ball of flames...").

• The other options are not central themes in both excerpts.

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CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

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Which theme is most emphasized by the inclusion of the radio reporter's words, "Oh, the Humanity!" in the passage?

• The immediate emotional impact of tragedy on witnesses.

• The technological aspects of airship travel.

• The historical importance of the Hindenburg disaster

• The scientific theories surrounding the cause of the fire.

Answer explanation

• "The immediate emotional impact of tragedy on witnesses," is correct. The phrase "Oh, the Humanity!" captures the raw emotional reaction to the disaster.

• The other options are not the primary themes emphasized by that specific detail.

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CCSS.RI.6.2

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CCSS.RL.7.2

What does the phrase "Her claw hand came out from under the covers and tapped it" say about the narrators view of her Great Grandma?

• The narrator thinks their Great Grandma is funny.

• The narrator doesn't respect their Great Grandma.

• The narrator is scared of their Great Grandma.

• The narrator has dehumanized their Great Grandma.

Answer explanation

"The narrator has dehumanized their Great Grandma," is the most correct answer because to "dehumanize" someone means you do not veiw/treat them as fully human.

This choice reinforces the themes in the short story, while the other options do not contribute to the overall theme.

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