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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. When did the group reach the Humboldt Sink?

2. What was Sutter's fort like?

3. What happened to Virginia's aunt according to her stories?

4. How many wagons did each family have?

5. What happened to Mr. Wolfinger?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did some of the people in Springfield question James Reed's ideas?

2. Why did Virginia's father choose to take his family to California?

3. Explain the idea behind "manifest destiny."

4. What happened to Mr. Hardcoop?

5. What would they have to do in order to cross a river?

6. What was "The Emigrants Guide to Oregon and California" like?

7. What happened to James Reed after he killed Snyder?

8. How did Charles Stanton helped the traveling party?

9. What did Clyman talk to Reed about?

10. What type of obstacles did people on wagon trains frequently have to face?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How did the descendants of the Donner Party feel about their relatives? What reputations did they have to live down?

Essay Topic 2

Was Lansford Warren Hastings qualified to write his book? Why or why not? What did the man do for a living and what was he like?

Essay Topic 3

What obstacles did the rescue parties have to overcome to save the members of the Donner Party?

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This section contains 568 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample