Worksheetsfrom “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions” from A Distant M
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 16mins
According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” what major factors contributed to the Peasants’ Revolt? Choose three options.
opposition to the king
enforced service to one’s lord
high prices in the market place
frequent assessment of poll taxes
lack of freedom to live where one wanted
As explained in the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” which of the following best characterizes the laborers’ actions on their march toward London?
rational and logcal
cautious yet hopeful
destructive and violent
efficient but misunderstood
According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” which of the following factors most convinced the peasants that the time was ripe to demand social reform?
A rise in literacy had begun, encouraging peasants to think for themselves.
The entire system of authority had proved itself to be weak, incompetent, and untrustworthy.
A series of bills passed in Parliament led the peasants to think that a new era of freedom had arrived.
The French peasants had recently provided an example of a successful rebellion against an oppressive government.
According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” why did Richard II and his government grant the charters presented by the peasants?
to show that they were willing to negotiate in good faith with the peasants
to acquire evidence that they later could use against the peasants in court
to examine the peasants’ demands and see which ones might be granted
to trick the peasants into ending their rebellion and going home
According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” what was Wat Tyler’s ultimate goal?
to gain freedom of movement for the villeins
to found a new state religion with himself as its head
to take over the government of England as the new ruler
to declare war on France and lead a peasant army against the French
Which of the following is the best definition of animosity?
puzzlement and confusion
hostility and dislike
faith and devotion
reason and logic
Which of the following sentences best illustrates the meaning of provoke?
Tarik was such a wonderful cook that we were delighted to get his invitation to dinner.
Angela used her leadership ability to organize the group into an efficient team.
Unpopular new school rules inspired Jeremy to organize a student protest.
Music lessons were a challenge to Jade, but she refused to quit.
Which of the following is the best example of a demagogue?
a leader who speaks for the people
a leader who misuses his or her powers
a leader who fills a position temporarily
a leader who is chosen on a hereditary basis
… [A]ll officialdom was [the peasants’] foe … but most especially men of the law because the law was the villeins’ prison.
What does she mean by calling the law “the villeins’ prison”?
Lawyers had thrown all of the villeins into jail.
Villeins had only limited legal representation in court.
Existing laws were fairer to villeins than to urban workers.
Existing laws robbed villeins of several basic human rights.
Which of the following statements best describes John Ball’s argument about the status of the peasants, according to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions”?
He argued that all people are born equal, so they should live as equals.
He argued that the powerful class does not make good use of its wealth.
He argued that a hereditary monarchy is an ignoble form of government.
He argued that because laborers do the work, they should control the profits.
According to Walsingham, [Tyler] boasted that “in four days’ time all the laws of England would be issuing from his mouth.”
Which of the following best explains the effect of this statement?
It foreshadows the brevity of the Peasants’ Revolt.
It draws a contrast between Wat Tyler and Thomas Walsingham.
It emphasizes Tyler’s goal and his confidence in reaching that goal.
It shows that Tyler was willing to cooperate with Walsingham and others.
According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” which of the following best describes Richard II’s reaction to the Peasants’ Revolt?
He sincerely wished to help the peasants but could not get his advisers to support reform.
He feared the peasants’ violence against him and refused to speak to them in person.
He had no sympathy for the peasants and no intention of granting their demands.
He did not take the rebellion seriously enough to pay any attention to it.
Among the primary sources used in the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions” are the actual words spoken by priests during the Peasants’ Revolt. Which of the following statements best describes the priests’ point of view of the rebellion?
They were objective, taking no sides in the rebellion but urging peace.
They were objective, showing no interest in or awareness of the rebellion.
They were biased against the lords, using harsh and extreme language to describe their actions.
They were biased against the peasants, condemning their actions without addressing the issues.
The pardons issued in the King’s name were revoked without compunction, and the charters canceled by a landowners’ Parliament on the grounds that they had been issued under duress. To a deputation from Essex who came to remind the King of his promise to end villeinage, Richard replied, “Villeins you are, and villeins ye shall remain.”
Which of these sentences most clearly goes beyond an objective statement of fact to provide the author’s interpretation of events?
The pardons issued in the King’s name were revoked without compunction.
The charters were canceled by a landowners’ Parliament.
A deputation from Essex came to remind the King of his promise.
Richard replied, “Villeins you are, and villeins ye shall remain.”
According to the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” the government’s slowness in reacting to the rebellion was partly due to “contempt for all Wills and Cobbs and Jacks and black-nailed louts.” What effect does the author achieve by interpreting the officials’ attitude in this way?
She hints that the peasants will succeed in their attempt to overthrow the system of villeinage.
She shows sympathy with the peasants by putting hateful words into the mouths of the officials.
She emphasizes the ease with which medieval people often could move up or down in their society.
She invites readers to join the lords and government officials in discounting the strength of the peasants.
The Greek root -ped- means “youth.” Think of the Greek root that means “leader.” Using your knowledge of this root and the information about -ped-, choose the word that refers to a person who leads youths toward knowledge or learning.
pediatrician
pedagogue
pediatrics
pedantry
The Greek prefix sym-/syn- means “together.” Given your knowledge of the Greek root word that means “leader,” identify the word that refers to a place where people are led together in worship.
synagogue
symphony
sympathy
synthesis
Which of these excerpts from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions” is the clearest example of a cause-and-effect structure?
While France smoldered, true revolt erupted in June 1381 in England, not of the urban class but of the peasants. In a country whose economy was largely rural, they were the working class that mattered.
Certain lords were forced by the rebels to accompany them “whether they would or not,” either to supply needed elements of command or the appearance of participation by the gentry.
Short of the King, their imagined champion, all officialdom was their foe—sheriffs, foresters, tax-collectors, judges, abbots, lords, bishops, and dukes—but most especially men of the law because the law was the villeins’ prison.
Leaders, including John Ball, were hanged and the rising elsewhere in England was suppressed—with sufficient brutality, if not the wild massacre that had taken place in France after the Jacquerie.
In the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” the story of the Peasants’ Revolt is told in chronological order. Which statement best describes the effect of this choice on the reader?
The reader understands how each event occurs in isolation.
The reader experiences the events the same way the participants did at the time.
The reader sees how certain events completely resolve problems that arise from other events.
The reader goes backward and forward in time in a way that helps to clarify the events described.
In the selection from “The Worms of the Earth Against the Lions,” the author often explains why certain events happened or describes the results of certain events. Which statement best describes the effect of this cause-and-effect organization on the reader?
The reader sees that historical events are random because they depend on the emotional impulses of flawed human beings.
The reader realizes that only after many years is it possible to understand the order in which historical events took place.
The reader understands that historical events happen for reasons and that each event is linked to many others.
The reader identifies with the historical figures by learning about events in the order in which they took place.
