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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Thompson and others feel would damage the economy of New Orleans?
(a) The War.
(b) Flooding and information withheld from the public.
(c) The lack of jobs.
(d) Inflation of goods.

2. In 1926, the Klan began break apart. Why did this happen?
(a) There wasn't enough money to keep them together.
(b) They were being prejudiced against all over the country.
(c) The leaders were being "nationally convicted" for major crimes.
(d) No one wanted to join them.

3. As floodwaters raged, what was happening to the crevasse at Mounds Landing?
(a) It quickly widened.
(b) It got deeper.
(c) It got smaller.
(d) It broke completely open.

4. During the major storms that were occurring along the Mississippi River in 1927, what happens to the dam in Arkansas?
(a) It was eroded away.
(b) It withstood the flood waters.
(c) It was getting repaired.
(d) It was blown up.

5. Why does Hoover accept the offer to head the flood relief committee?
(a) He was offered a large sum of money.
(b) He always wanted to visit the Delta area.
(c) He wanted to help the people in that area.
(d) He sees it as a great opportunity to gain popularity with the public.

Short Answer Questions

1. What controversial issue did Eads propose that was authorized in 1867?

2. As other cities are flooding, why did panic erupt amongst the residents in New Orleans?

3. What helped Leroy Percy lose a lot of his political influence outside of the Delta area?

4. River flow is measured in cubic feet per second (cfs). What happens as the cfs increases?

5. What two things did Humphrey unsuccessfully attempt to do to change the mouth of the Mississippi River?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the author says it is hoped that the bridge construction will "marry steamboats to railroads", what does he mean?

2. A racist governor is elected into office in Mississippi, yet it is still considered a safe place for the blacks to work. However, when waters begin to rise, black convicts are ordered to lay on the levee and use their bodies as sandbags. Does everyone follow Percy's influence to alleviate discrimination?

3. Why did the author start the book on a stormy night?

4. Why does Thompson feel he is doing a good thing by withholding news from the public?

5. As committees are formed to decide about dynamiting the levee, the Mounds Landing crevasse is brought up in conversation. Why is this crevasse brought into the conversation?

6. Thompson has the idea of dynamiting the levees to the south of New Orleans, but who gets the idea primarily accepted by everyone?

7. How do the politics in New Orleans operate during the time of the flood in 1927?

8. The railroads and river make the Delta region flourish, yet there is a shortage of workers in the area. How will the better treatment of blacks by LeRoy Percy help this problem?

9. As many cities along the Mississippi found themselves under tremendous amounts of water, what was the mood in the Midwest?

10. Humphreys has his friend, Charles Howell, inspect the progress Eads is making on the jetties. Howell makes a report that the jetties aren't working the way Eads said they would. Eads in turn has a friend of his disclaim Humphreys' report. Why does Humphreys lie in his report?

(see the answer keys)

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