1. In the spring of 1973, what does the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do to try to alleviate the tremendous force of water against the control structure?
(a) Dig a ditch to re-route the water.
(b) Dam up water north of the structure.
(c) Open up all eleven gates.
(d) Purposely flood the entire region.

2. What is Thorbjorn Sigurgeirsson's vocation?
(a) Environmentalist.
(b) Physicist.
(c) Chemist.
(d) Biologist.

3. What gives Thorbjorn Sigurgeirsson the idea to cool the oncoming flow of lava?
(a) Watching children play by the water.
(b) Watching lava cool by the sea.
(c) Stories he'd heard of ancestors doing the same.
(d) His post-graduate studies.

4. On General Sand's floating conference boat, Oliver Houck is the only board member who is active in what?
(a) Local political life.
(b) Environmental movement.
(c) Taking the census.
(d) Cancelling the Old River project.

5. A navigation lock on the bank of the Mississippi River lowers ships down to where?
(a) Gulf of Mexico.
(b) Atchafalaya River.
(c) Red River.
(d) Atlantic Ocean.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author retells the time when Raphael G. Kazmann walks out onto the five hundred and sixty-six foot structure over the Old River but leaves quickly because:

2. What is a weir?

3. Over a number of centuries, how does the Mississippi River form the state of Louisiana?

4. Thorbjorn Sigurgeirsson is a native of which country?

5. In the 1800s, why do levee districts and boards form in Louisiana?

(see the answer key)

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