Story Elements and Comprehension - On the Banks of Plum Creek

What challenge causes the most hardship for the Ingalls family?

• Living in a big city

• Finding a school for Laura

• A plague of grasshoppers

• Conflict with neighbors

How does Laura feel about living in the dugout house?

• She thinks it’s exciting and cozy

• She is embarrassed by it

• She refuses to live there

• She wants to move to town

Which best describes the setting of the novel?

• A modern Minnesota suburb

• The Minnesota prairie during pioneer times

• A California mining town

• The Great Plains during the Dust Bowl

How are Laura and Mary different?

• Laura is obedient and shy; Mary is bold and wild

• Laura is bold and curious; Mary is calm and proper

• Laura and Mary are identical

• Mary often gets into trouble

What is the climax of the story?

• Pa builds the new house

• Laura goes to school

• The grasshoppers destroy the crops

• Mary wins a prize at school

What lesson can readers learn from the grasshopper plague?

• Nature is always gentle and helpful

• Families must rely on one another during hardships

• It’s safer to live in the city

• Children shouldn’t go outside

What does the creek in the story symbolize for Laura?

• A place of danger

• Modern civilization

• Freedom and risk

• Her relationship with Mary

What word describes the fabric often worn by the Ingalls family?

• Muslin

• Denim

• Calico

• Wool

What is Pa's role in the family?

• He travels far and sends money

• He is a schoolteacher

• He is the provider and comforter for his family

• He is a neighbor who helps the Ingalls

Why is On the Banks of Plum Creek considered historical fiction?

• It is a nonfiction memoir

• It includes made-up characters in a futuristic setting

• It is based on real events and time periods but includes fictionalized elements

• It is entirely fictional with no historical basis