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the heroes of pea island

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Read the passage below and answer the question: The sea is a dangerous place, and travel by ship has always been risky. Far from land, fierce storms can sink even the strongest ship. Closer to shore, high winds and strong tides can smash a ship to pieces on hidden rocks. For centuries, ships have been sunk in this way along coasts all over the world. In the southern United States, the state of North Carolina has an especially dangerous coast. Hundreds of ships have been wrecked there. That’s why this area is often called the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

a)

True

b)

False

2.

Where were the rescue stations set up by the Life-Saving Service?

a)

Only on the Atlantic coast

b)

Only on the Pacific coast

c)

Along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts

d)

Only in North Carolina

3.

True or False: The Life-Saving Service teams worked only during the day.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

Based on the map titled 'Voyage of the E.S. Newman,' which of the following states is NOT shown on the map?

a)

North Carolina

b)

Pennsylvania

c)

Florida

d)

Delaware

5.

According to the passage 'Caught in a Hurricane,' what did some witnesses call the storm?

a)

The worst storm in 10 years

b)

The worst storm in 50 years

c)

The worst storm in 100 years

d)

The worst storm in 5 years

6.

What is a three-masted ship?

a)

A ship with three sails

b)

A sailing boat with three masts

c)

A boat with three engines

d)

A ship with three decks

7.

Refer to the diagram of the ship. Match the following ship parts to their correct labels:

a)

Holds the sails

1.

Mast

b)

Ropes and lines

2.

Rigging

c)

Catches the wind

3.

Sail

8.

What happened to the E.S. Newman during the storm?

a)

It reached its destination safely

b)

It was blown 100 miles off course and struck a hidden sandbar

c)

It sank in the middle of the ocean

d)

It lost all its sails

9.

How far was the ship from shore?

a)

10 yards

b)

25 yards

c)

50 yards

d)

100 yards

10.

Read the passage: 'The E. S. Newman was stuck on the sandbar. Although the ship was only 50 yards from shore, the lifeboat had already been ripped away from the ship by the stormy sea. As the huge waves pounded his helpless vessel, the captain saw that the ship was slowly breaking apart.' True or False: The lifeboat was still attached to the ship.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

Who were tied to one of the masts to keep them from being swept overboard?

a)

The captain and a crew member

b)

The captain's wife and son

c)

The ship's cook and first mate

d)

The captain's daughter and son

12.

The crew tied the captain's wife and son to the mast to keep them from being swept overboard.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

According to the passage 'In the Watch Tower,' how many men were on duty at the Pea Island Life-Saving Station during the shipwreck of the E. S. Newman?

a)

Five

b)

Seven

c)

Nine

d)

Ten

14.

The rescue squad hitched mules to the carts before heading down the beach.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Facing the Impossible The rescue carts weighed over 1,000 pounds, and the men had to use all their strength to keep moving forward. It took two hours for them to finally reach the stretch of beach closest to the ship. The people on board shouted with joy. But the squad quickly realized that this would not be an ordinary rescue. They could not use their usual method to bring the people to shore. With the beach completely flooded, they had no place to set up their equipment.

a)

True

b)

False

16.

Based on the passage and the diagram, what were the two men attached to as they swam out to the damaged ship?

a)

A wooden plank

b)

A long rope

c)

A metal chain

d)

A fishing net

17.

The E. S. Newman was breaking apart and the people on board were growing weaker.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

It took both men working together, and the crew on shore hauling at the rope, for them to finally make it back to safety.

a)

True

b)

False

19.

What were the rescued passengers given when they arrived at the Pea Island station?

a)

Cold drinks and towels

b)

Warm blankets and hot drinks

c)

Money and food

d)

New clothes

20.

The group had to fight its way back through the storm to the rescue station after everyone was safely ashore.

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Read the passage 'The Wreckage on the Beach.' What did the captain find when he went to see what was left of his ship?

a)

The ship was still intact

b)

Wreckage scattered along the beach

c)

The crew waiting for him

d)

Nothing at all

22.

What page would you find the section A Ship in Trouble

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

8

23.

What page would you find the section Mission Accomplished?

a)

16

b)

14

c)

12

d)

10

24.

When was the Pea Island Heroes recognized for their efforts to save the crew?

a)

October 1896

b)

October 1986

c)

March 1996

d)

March 1897

25.

What was the award that the Pea Island Heroes received?

a)

a gold medal

b)

a silver medal

c)

The United States Coast Guard's Gold Life Saving Medal

d)

The United States Silver Medal for heroes.

26.

What is the theme or message of this book?

a)

Not giving up even when things seem bad

b)

Hurricanes cause a lot of damage

c)

There are nice people out there

27.

What did Theodore Meekins see from land?

a)

a yellow light

b)

a green light

c)

a white light

d)

a red light