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WorksheetsThe Burning of the White House
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
"Shiver, shiver," wrote Abigail Adams in a letter to her daughter about living in the White House. She most likely used these words because she was...
frightened that the British forces would soon be in Washington D.C
excited about just becoming the nation's first lady
chilly in the cold, drafty mansion
nervous about living alone in such a large house
The phrase "Wednesday drawing rooms" refers to
the rooms in which the Madisons displayed important paintings
the weekly drawing lessons that were given under the direction of James Hoban
the rooms in which James Madison and his cabinet drew up and signed official papers
the receptions that Dolley Madison gave each week in the White House
In the third paragraph, Dolley Madison is described as vivacious. Which of these is the best synonym for vivacious?
serious
quarrelsome
shy
lively
Why did Dolley Madison ask a servant to prepare dinner on August 24, 1814?
She wanted to leave something for the British soldiers to eat
She was giving one of her popular weekly receptions that evening
She wanted to have a meal ready for her husband and his cabinet when they returned
She was very hungry after a busy monring of packing
According to the passage, which of these actions happened first?
A painting of George Washington was taken away from the mansion for safe keeping
James Madison left the White House to go to a nearby battle
A messenger arrived at the White House urging Dolley Madison to leave
Dolley Madison had the trunks she had packed into a wagon
In paragraph six, the British soldiers are described as gleeful. Which of these is the best synonym for gleeful?
cautious
joyful
embarrassed
respectful
In what year did the rebuilding of the White House begin?
1815
1800
1818
1810
Based on whatt you read in this passage, you can conclude that
Dolley Madison shouted at the British soldiers for drinking her husband's wines
Benjamin Latrobe thought the red velvet curtains selected by Dolley were beautiful
the United States won its war with England in 1813
there was no indoor running water in the White House in 1800
According to the passage, decorating the shabby and bare rooms of the White House in 1809 led to
pleasing Congress
being able to host formal dinners and parties
giving Dolley Madison a hobby
improving the public view of the president
According to the passage, preparing to evacuate the mansion in 1814 involved all EXCEPT
salvaging the red velvet curtains in the drawing room
removing a portrait of George Washington
eating a prepared dinner when President Madison returned
filling trunks with important documents
What is the relationship between the lack of indoor plumbing in the White House and the people living there?
there is no connection
water had to be brought in, in buckets
the president and his wife could never bathe indoors
a restroom was constructed in 1809
Which paragraph would be most appropriate for the heading: "The British Bring the War to D.C"?
*The first indention marks the second paragraph. The text begins with the first paragraph. There are 7 paragraphs in all.
1
2
3
4
5
Read these two sentences from paragraph 5: "Sure that her husband and his cabinet would return soon, she asked a servant to prepare dinner." What is the relationship between the first and second sentences used here?
the sentences contrast two events
the sentences show a similarity between two events
sentence one gives the cause of sentence two
sentence one gives a solution to a problem in sentence two
What sentence is the BEST main idea of the passage?
The first White House was decorated by Dolley Madison
The first White House was only lived in by President Madison before it was burned by the British
America never gave up hope and was determined to build a new White House
The British were relentless in seeking revenge against the United States president
A reader of this passage could make inferences and form opinions about all of the following EXCEPT...
Dolley Madison enjoyed entertaining
President Madison was involved in the battle of 1814
President Madison was a wealthy man to be able to make so many updates to the first White House
Dolley Madison respected the founding fathers of the United States
