WorksheetsTest: "The Earth on Turtle's Back" (Onondaga), "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" (Modoc), from The Navajo Origin Legend (N
Total questions: 23
Worksheet time: 12mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Name:
4 lines
2.
Period:
a)
Period 1
b)
Period 2
c)
Period 3
d)
Period 6
3.
Which of the following is a true statement about a myth?
a)
Myths are usually about everyday people and their daily lives
b)
All myths attempt to explain the origin of earthly life
c)
Myths often feature immortal beings
d)
Myths rarely convey cultural values
4.
"The Earth on Turtle's Back," "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," and the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend are origin myths. What are origin myths?
a)
stories about talking animals
b)
stories about ancient people
c)
stories that explain how life or the world began
d)
stories that explain the present day
5.
"The Earth on Turtle's Back" tells how something came to exist. What is it that grew on Turtle's back?
a)
the sky
b)
the Earth
c)
the sea
d)
the woman
6.
"The Earth on Turtle's Back" shows the importance the Onondaga placed on
a)
rain
b)
dreams
c)
strength in battle
d)
old age
7.
Think about the animal characters in "The Earth on Turtle's Back." Which one is the archetype of the hero or heroine who is determined to succeed, even though the character is not as strong as the others?
a)
the Turtle
b)
the Loon
c)
the Muskrat
d)
the Duck
8.
In "The Earth on Turtle's Back," what happens to the chief's wife when the Great Tree is uprooted?
a)
She helps replant the tree
b)
She falls through the hole left by the roots
c)
She dreams of a way to restore the tree
d)
She creates the Earth
9.
In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," the daughter places herself in a dangerous position because she is
a)
shy
b)
self-sacrificing
c)
self-destructive
d)
curious
10.
"When Grizzlies Walked Upright" explains the origins of
a)
human beings
b)
the earth
c)
snow
d)
ice
11.
According to "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," why do the Modocs never kill grizzly bears?
a)
The grizzlies are their ancestors
b)
The grizzlies are endangered
c)
The grizzlies are magical
d)
The grizzlies are too fierce
12.
In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," the Chief of the Sky Spirits becomes angry with the grizzlies. What is the biggest reason for his anger?
a)
The grizzlies do not want to walk upright
b)
The grizzlies have have created a new race
c)
He envies the grizzlies' life in the forest
d)
He thinks the grizzlies stole his daughter off the mountain
13.
In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," what does the Sky Chief do to the grizzlies because of his anger?
a)
He and his tribe hunt them
b)
He chases them out of the forest
c)
He gives them a different language
d)
He makes them walk on all four feet
14.
What does The Navajo Origin Legend describe?
a)
the first marriage
b)
the first corn crop
c)
the creation of the gods
d)
the creation of the wind
15.
What part does the wind play in the ritual from the excerpt of The Navajo Origin Legend?
a)
It arranges the ears of corn in rows
b)
It gives life to the man and woman
c)
It lays a trail through the corn
d)
It calls to the Mirage People
16.
In the ceremony described in the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend, the ears of corn are carefully laid out with their heads to the west and their tips to the east. The arrangement of the corn reflects the importance the Navajo placed on
a)
the phases of the moon
b)
desert mirages
c)
the west wind
d)
the rising and setting sun
17.
In which sentence is the meaning of the word protruded best described?
a)
The Sky Spirit's daughter stuck her head up above the smoke hole.
b)
The Woman from the Sky fell through the hole left by the Great Tree.
c)
The grizzlies raised the girl as if she were one of their own cubs.
d)
The First Man and the First Woman were created from ears of corn.
18.
Which of these would be some of your ancestors?
a)
your grandparents
b)
your sister and brother
c)
your niece and nephew
d)
your great-grandchildren
19.
The muskrat made a swift dive toward the bottom of the water. What does the word swift most likely mean?
a)
Slow and careful
b)
Quick and sudden
c)
Heavy and strong
d)
Gentle and quiet
20.
The animals searched through the scrubby plants near the water's edge. What does scrubby mean in this sentence?
a)
Tall and beautiful
b)
Short and rough looking
c)
Bright and colorful
d)
Wet and slippery
21.
The Sky Spirit's daughter began to tremble when the wind blew around her. What does tremble mean here?
a)
A smile with joy
b)
To shake slightly from fear or cold
c)
To run away quickly
d)
To grow very tired
22.
The people watched as the great tree was uprooted from the ground. What does uprooted most likely mean?
a)
To be pulled out by the roots
b)
To be watered and cared for
c)
To grow taller than before
d)
To be planted carefully
23.
Short answer: In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," the Chief of the Sky Spirits criticizes all the Grizzlies and their descendants. He says that they must walk on four feet and may never talk again. Do you think the chief was too harsh? Do you think he had a good reason to do what he did? In a few sentences explain your response. Cite at least one detail from the myth to support your opinion
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