The Iroquois Creation Myth: "The World on Turtle's Back"

In the beginning of "The World on Turtle's Back," why did the husband become "terrified"? A) He was terrified the he might never see his wife again B) He was terrified that his wife might fall through the hole in the sky C) He was terrified that he would be punished for marring a sacred tree D) He was terrified that the Great Tree would fall into the ocean

C) He was terrified that he would be punished for marring a sacred tree

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." The animals thought that perhaps there was dirt at the depths of the ocean, but they had never tried to reach the bottom before. One by one they tried to swim down, but their attempts were futile. Finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean. After a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. He appeared to be dead, but the animals prayed and chanted, and finally he stirred. The Earth-Diver was successful in bringing forth the soil to make the earth grow. Which sentences from the excerpt best support the idea that the Iroquois valued sacrifice by one for the good of all? A) The animals thought that perhaps there was dirt at the depths of the ocean, but they had never tried to reach the bottom before B) After a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. He appeared to be dead C) [T]he animals prayed and chanted, and finally he stirred D) The Earth-Diver was successful in bringing forth the soil to make the earth grow.

B) After a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. He appeared to be dead

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." The birds of the sea joined together to save the woman and they broke her fall. The great sea turtle floated in the ocean and received the woman on his back without harm. The frightened woman looked around and all she could see was water and sky. She felt helpless, but the animals were determined to save her. She told them that if they could find some soil, she could plant the roots from the Great Tree that were still tangled in her hands. Based on the animals' behavior toward the woman, it is reasonable to conclude that the animals A) were frightened by a creature they had never seen B) felt compassion for the woman because she was scared C) were hoping to live on land that the woman would create D) wanted the roots from the sacred Great Tree

B) felt compassion for the woman because she was scared

The conflict between the right-handed brother and left-handed brother described in"The World on Turtle's Back" shows that the Iroquois most likely believed A) right-handed children should be favored over left-handed ones B) there is an eternal battle between good and evil C) left-handed people are naturally evil D) most people are good and few are evil.

B) there is an eternal battle between good and evil

Which sentence from "The World on Turtle's Back" best illustrates why the story is considered a creation myth? A) The woman created a home for herself on this new earth and soon her daughter was born B) She told them that if they could find some soil, she could plant the roots from the Great Tree that were still tangled in her hands C) The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth D) She is called "our mother" and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow

C) The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth

According to "The World on Turtle's Back," which best demonstrates the Iroquois view of women? A) Women were viewed as clumsy and poor at making decisions B) Women were viewed as helpless without the support of men and animals C) Women were respected because they helped create and sustain the world D) Women were worshipped because they were the descendants of a goddess

C) Women were respected because they helped create and sustain the world

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." Without knowing it, the right and left-handed twins built balance into the world. The plant-eating animals created by the right-handed twin balanced out the meat-eating animals created by the left-handed twin. And so the world thrived, and this was good. Which statement best describes the purpose of this excerpt? A) to describe who created plant- and meat-eating animals B) to explain that some animals are good and others are evil C) to explain how balance came to exist in the natural world D) to describe two different kinds of animals found in the world

C) to explain how balance came to exist in the natural world

Based on "The World on Turtle's Back," which statement best describes the Iroquois attitude toward nature and the environment? A) The Iroquois believed that the gods had given them control over nature B) The Iroquois were very fearful of the dangers of plants and animals C) The Iroquois believed that only plants and animals benefiting people should survive D) The Iroquois revered nature and valued the plants and animals that sustained them

D) The Iroquois revered nature and valued the plants and animals that sustained them

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." One day, when the girl had become a woman, a man appeared. No one knows where this man came from. Perhaps he was sent from the Gods above. The girl was so filled with wonder to see this strange man, she lost her senses and fainted. The man yielded two very different arrows, and laid them across the body of the girl in opposite directions, then he disappeared. Which statement best describes the significance of the arrows? A) They represent the fact that the woman will die in childbirth B) They represent a warning from the man to the woman C) They represent the man's intention to kill the woman D) They represent the twins that the woman will bear

D) They represent the twins that the woman will bear

Read this quotation from "The World on Turtle's Back." The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth. She walked around the dirt in the direction of the sun until the earth grew large enough. Then she planted the roots from the Great Tree and continued her ritual to keep the earth growing. Like the sun she kept moving around the earth, in the same direction the people still do in dance rituals today. The main purpose of this quotation is to A) emphasize the importance of rituals in everyday life B) prove that animals played a major role in the creation of the Earth C) show why dancers move from east to west in rituals D) describe the Iroquois belief of how the Earth was created

D) describe the Iroquois belief of how the Earth was created