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"? ✘ O He was terrified the he might never see his wife again. ✘ O He was terrified that his wife might fall through the hole in the sky. ✔ ∅ He was terrified that he would be punished for marring a sacred tree. ✘ O He was terrified that the Great Tree would fall into the ocean.

✔ ∅ He was terrified that he would be punished for marring a sacred tree.

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

✔ ∅ The Iroquois revered nature and valued the plants and animals that sustained them.

Which sentence from "The World on Turtle's Back" best illustrates why the story is considered a creation myth? ✘ O The woman created a home for herself on this new earth and soon her daughter was born. ✘ O 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. ✔ ∅ The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth. ✘ O She is called "our mother" and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow.

✔ ∅ The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth.

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? ✘ O They represent the fact that the woman will die in childbirth. ✘ O They represent a warning from the man to the woman. ✘ O They represent the man's intention to kill the woman. ✔ ∅ They represent the twins that the woman will bear.

✔ ∅ They represent the twins that the woman will bear.

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

✔ ∅ Women were respected because they helped create and sustain the world.

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." In the Sky-World was a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife. His wife told him that she wanted some bark from the roots of the Great Tree. Though the husband knew it was wrong, he dug up the roots of the tree for his wife. In doing so, he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World, and was shocked to find empty space underneath. He was terrified and told his wife what he did. Which words in this excerpt support the idea that the husband was very devoted to his wife? ✔ ∅ a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife ✘ O the husband knew it was wrong ✘ O he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World ✘ O He . . . told his wife what he did

✔ ∅ a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." The conflict between the twins continued, and for some reason, the grandmother favored the left-handed twin. The right-handed twin became angry and resentful. He was the truthful twin who always did the right thing. The left-handed twin was deceitful and did everything backward. You could never trust him. The twins represented the two ways of the world which are in all people. The Indians did not call these good and evil. They called them the straight mind and the crooked mind, the righteous man and the devious man, the right and the left. The main purpose of this excerpt is to ✘ O demonstrate that right-handed people are good and left-handed people are bad. ✘ O explain why some people do the right thing and others do not. ✘ O provide the reason why the grandmother favored the left-handed twin. ✔ ∅ clarify what the Iroquois considered the two different sides of human nature.

✔ ∅ clarify what the Iroquois considered the two different sides of human nature.

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." The right-handed twin accused his brother of murdering their mother and their quarrels continued until it was time to bury their mother. With the help of their grandmother, they made her a grave. From her head grew the three sister plants, corn, beans, and squash. From her heart grew tobacco, which people still use to give thanks in ceremony. She is called "our mother" and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow. The excerpt suggests that the Iroquois believed that ✔ ∅ sometimes good can come from tragedy. ✘ O mothers should be worshipped as goddesses. ✘ O corn, beans, and squash are essential for life. ✘ O dancing and singing can make plants grow.

✔ ∅ sometimes good can come from tragedy.

The Iroquois perform rituals to honor the twins in "The World on Turtle's Back," illustrating the Iroquoian belief that ✘ O they must perform certain rituals in order to sustain the Earth. ✔ ∅ the twins are gods and it is important to show them devotion. ✘ O singing and dancing will ensure the safety of the twins. ✘ O the twins enjoy watching ritualistic singing and dancing.

✔ ∅ the twins are gods and it is important to show them devotion.

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 ✘ O right-handed children should be favored over left-handed ones. ✔ ∅ there is an eternal battle between good and evil. ✘ O left-handed people are naturally evil. ✘ O most people are good and few are evil.

✔ ∅ there is an eternal battle between good and evil.