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Bound for Oregon - Chapter 1-4

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What are the reasons the Todd family and their neighbors are starting to talk about moving out west? Check all that apply.

a)

They hear the land has lots of timber for building.

b)

The climate is gentle all year round.

c)

There is gold to mine out there.

d)

A farmer can lay a claim to a 640 acre plot of the best farmland in the world

e)

There are companies hiring men by the hundreds out there.

2.

Who is the narrator of the story Bound for Oregon?

a)

Louvina Todd

b)

Mary Ellen Todd

c)

Mother

d)

an unknown third person narrator

3.

In what ways did the Todd family practice self sufficiency? Check all that apply.

a)

They raised their own food.

b)

They churned butter.

c)

They mined for gold to sell.

d)

They made their own pots out of clay.

e)

They made homemade soap.

4.

Why did Mary Ellen's grandmother take care of her for six years?

a)

Her parents were too busy with the farm.

b)

Her mother had died and her dad didn't remarry right away.

c)

Her grandmother simply wanted to be close to them.

d)

She had run away from home to live with her grandma until she could return her to her parents.

5.

Which word means "a fever that makes you shake and feel cold"?

a)

ague

b)

quinine

c)

grave

d)

reticule

6.

In this photo from page 8, what is Father making on his potter's wheel?

a)

a bowl

b)

a plate

c)

a pitcher

d)

a vase

7.

What did Mary Ellen notice in the pitchers and jugs her father made that always made her smile?

a)

His signature on the bottom of them.

b)

His initials carved into the handles.

c)

He was the only one who made the pottery out of red clay.

d)

His thumbprint where the handles attach to the vessel.

8.

Which word means "looking or sounding quiet and serious, especially because something important or worrying has happened"?

a)

bedraggled

b)

grave

c)

reticule

d)

quinine

9.

What is the name of Father's three daughters? Check all that apply.

a)

Mary Ellen

b)

Sarah

c)

Louvina

d)

Kathrine

e)

Cynthia

10.

What does the fact that Mary Ellen's mother and Louvina's mother both died young tell you about life at that time?

a)

There was a deadly pandemic around that time.

b)

Attacks by Native Americans were commonplace.

c)

Life was hard due to many reasons. People just didn't often live long lives then.

d)

Since they are sisters, they probably had a genetic reason that affected them both.

11.

Who is John Ragsdale?

a)

The stepbrother of the three girls.

b)

A large man who was their neighbor who agreed to come along on the trip to Oregon as a hired hand.

c)

A cousin of the girls, and Father's nephew.

d)

A neighbor's son, who was sometimes cared for by Mary Ellen's family.

12.

Which is NOT a reason that Mary Ellen was worried about the trip to Oregon?

a)

She kept seeing her grandmother's crying face in her dreams.

b)

She heard about hail the size of hen's eggs.

c)

She heard about other wagon train groups starving to death when they got stuck in the mountains.

d)

She heard that in Oregon, she wouldn't be able to complete her studies for school.

e)

She heard about Indian raids on the settlers going west.

13.

Why did Mary Ellen sometimes wish she had been born a boy?

a)

She liked helping father with men's chores.

b)

She hated cooking and cleaning.

c)

She liked doing things that her mother didn't consider "ladylike" like running and jumping.

d)

She thought her family needed a boy to help father.

14.

What advice did a farmer give Father a few days into their journey from Arkansas?

a)

To turn around and go home because it is too dangerous.

b)

They better get moving faster before the bad winter weather hits them.

c)

They should wait in Independence, Missouri for a larger wagon train to form.

d)

They should avoid stopping in Missouri as people will take advantage of them with bad trades.

15.

About how far could the wagon travel each day between Arkansas and Independence Missouri?

a)

About five miles per day.

b)

About 20-30 miles per day.

c)

About 12-15 miles per day.

d)

Over 30 miles every day.

16.

What did they see when they got to Independence, Missouri?

a)

Hundreds of wagons ready to make large wagon trains to travel together.

b)

A small town without much to do or see.

c)

Mostly people who looked and acted very differently than Mary Ellen's family.

d)

A peaceful place to camp and get ready for the long journey across the wilderness.

17.

Which word means "disturbed the surface of; ruffled"?

a)

bedraggled

b)

homespun

c)

grave

d)

riffled

18.

What was significant of how Father handled the large mean dog and his owner who was seemingly looking for a fight?

a)

His angry booming voice scared the man and his dog away.

b)

He was frightened by the man and allowed him to say what he wanted.

c)

He stayed calm and changed the subject, to show the man that his threatening behavior didn't bother him.

d)

He hit the man in the face to protect himself and his family.

19.

Which word means "bedding made from feathers that is traditionally placed on top of mattresses to make them softer"?

a)

hemming

b)

reticule

c)

ticks

d)

homespun

20.

Fill in the blank. After Father avoided getting into a fight with Towser's owner, Mary Ellen thought he acted very ________.

a)

cowardly

b)

intelligently

c)

bravely

d)

angrily