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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. As much of the Delta area was flooding, why did Greenville remain hopeful?
(a) They never flooded before.
(b) They had a higher elevation than the other cities.
(c) They weren't right on the river.
(d) They had an 8 foot high protection levee.

2. Why did most levees fail?
(a) Water pressure.
(b) Low quality materials.
(c) Tampering with the levees.
(d) Poor designing.

3. In 1850, what were the Humphreys and Charles Ellet Jr. competing for?
(a) The girl they wanted to marry.
(b) A trip down the Mississippi River.
(c) The job to survey the Mississippi River.
(d) Being the mayor of New Orleans.

4. What controversial issue did Eads propose that was authorized in 1867?
(a) A railroad across the state of Mississippi.
(b) Constuction of a steamboat.
(c) A bridge over the Mississippi.
(d) Construction of a plane.

5. As other cities are flooding, why did panic erupt amongst the residents in New Orleans?
(a) They can see the water rising along the levee.
(b) There are no jobs.
(c) There has been a series of murders.
(d) They can't get any food into the city.

Short Answer Questions

1. During the major storms that were occurring along the Mississippi River in 1927, what happens to the dam in Arkansas?

2. What event did the Boston Club pay a large role in?

3. For decades, what were the levees constructed to do?

4. What was unique about the crevasse at Mounds Landing?

5. How did Coolidge not get personally involved in the flooding?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. Why does Hoover see being the chairman of the flood committee as a great opportunity?

4. What does the Boston Club symbolize in New Orleans?

5. After facing complete opposition, how would Eads' offer to independently pay for the construction of the jetties completely change the minds of the public and politicians?

6. How involved in the flooding is Coolidge when he is the President of the United States?

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

8. The author wrote that during the 1800's "the prevailing attitude is that the Mississippi River can be controlled if the laws of nature governing the river were understood." What could John M. Barry mean by this?

9. 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?

10. Much of the Delta region is underwater from the failure of levees, yet the people of Greenville still have faith in their protection levee. What happens to their levee?

(see the answer keys)

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