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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Banneker's grandfather was born of royal blood from which country?

2. In what year was Benjamin Banneker born?

3. Banneker eventually created his project solely out of which material?

4. What was Lewis Latimer's middle name?

5. From which disease did Matzeliger die at age 37?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss McCoy's education and training in the engineering field.

2. Explain how Woods taught himself to become an engineer.

3. What items did Banneker use to assist in creating the project? How long did it take to build? What was unusual about the piece?

4. What is the opening passage of the story of Benjamin Banneker? Which famous people were involved?

5. What was the reason Rillieux decided to leave New Orleans? Where did Rillieux go?

6. When and where was Elijah McCoy born? What actions taken by McCoy's parents may have ensured McCoy's success?

7. Describe George Latimer's contribution to the abolitionist movement, how it came about, and which famous people helped Latimer along the way.

8. What was revolutionary about Matzeliger's invention? What had stopped previous inventors from creating the same machine?

9. What job did Lewis Latimer get that helped to propel him into the field of drafting? What did Latimer propose to his employers? How did it affect his career?

10. Rillieux became interested in what process? What process was in place when Rillieux began? How did Rillieux's invention help the industry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many trends that are apparent throughout the text in regards to education. Which universities were attended the most? Were the universities influential? Which still exist? Why did the doctors and scientists choose to attend and sometimes work at these particular schools? What were the educational barriers placed before the men as they attempted to enter college? Examine the benefits of university education as it applies to each scientist and/or inventor.

Essay Topic 2

Granville T. Woods had a great deal of experience in the field of electricity before returning to his status as a full time inventor. Create a time line of Woods' inventions. Write at least two paragraphs on each invention. What other inventors may have been involved? What was Woods' most important invention? How many patents did Woods hold?

Essay Topic 3

Banneker attended the Third Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Explain the reason for Banneker's attendance. Was it unusual for a black man to attend such a political function? Why was Banneker so interested in Thomas Jefferson? What were the pros and cons of Jefferson according to Banneker? Why do you think the founding fathers chose to listen to a black man when it came to reconstructing the plans for Washington, D.C.? What was Banneker's greatest contribution?

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This section contains 902 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample