The Story of Our Constitution

Read this sentence from paragraph 4 of the passage.

“The debates were endless and often heated. Tempers flared, and before June was out, the convention was deadlocked between large and small states…”

How do the terms “heated” and “flared” support the claim that things were not well with the country?

• They prove how rewarding it is to write the constitution with powerful giants like George Washington.

• They provide examples of Congress meeting frequently to review plans and determine the best direction.

• They show the limited power of any one branch of government in the plans of the constitution.

• They suggest the difficulties the delegates faced while writing the constitution.

How does the author develop the purpose of the passage?

• by describing the life story of an immensely educated forefather

• by describing how the Virginia plan was a revised version of the Articles of Confederation

• by describing the history of how one of America’s most important documents was written

• by describing how the Constitution has changed over time

How does the structure of paragraph 2 affect the meaning of the passage?

• The chronological structure tells the significant events of writing the constitution in the order in which they occurred.

• The cause-and-effect structure demonstrates why the delegates faced difficulties while working with each other.

• The compare-and-contrast structure explains the differences between the wants of the small states versus the large states.

• The problem-and-solution structure tells how the delegates worked closely together to resolve their differences.

What does the subheading Debate in Philadelphia show?

• The Constitution was written in a secret area of Philadelphia.

• The Constitution was written after many arguments took place.

• . The Constitution was written to secure America’s independence from Great Britain.

• The Constitution was written to include an elegant Preamble, “We the People of the United States…”

Read these sentences from the passage. “Two days later, on September 17, the Constitution was signed, though only by thirty-nine delegates. Three adamantly refused, and others had returned home already.” (paragraph 9)

What does the word “adamantly” in this sentence explain about the refusal?

• firmly

• flexibly

• importantly

• elegantly

Read these sentences from the passage. “When they reconvened, all was not harmonious. Furious arguments flared up over the regulation of trade, which had been one of the key reasons for the convention, and over the commercial, moral, and emotional question of slavery.” (paragraph 7)

What does the word harmonious mean as it is used in this sentence?

• familiar with a tune

• furious with

• angry and resentful

• friendly and peaceful

Select the sentence that best summarizes the passage.

• In 1787, after the Revolutionary War ended, America secured independence from Great Britain.

• In 1787, important delegates met in Philadelphia to debate and write a set of rules for leading our country

• In 1787, Gouverneur Morris became known as the “the man who wrote the Constitution.”

• In 1787, George Washington was unanimously elected presiding officer of the convention.

Which sentence supports the claim that getting states to agree on the wording of the constitution was not an easy task?

• Furious arguments flared up over the regulation of trade and the question of slavery.

• The first draft of the Constitution was presented on August 6th .

• A Committee of Detail was appointed to draw up the Constitution.

• On May 14, 1787 a handful of delegates assembled in Philadelphia.