pre test
"The World on Turtle's Back" is a creation myth because it a.focuses on characters whom the Iroquois considered "gods." b.is an Iroquoian story about people and animals who talk to each other. c.explains how the Iroquois believe that the earth was created. d.describes Iroquoian social and cultural values.
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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
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 were frightened by a creature they had never seen. felt compassion for the woman because she was scared.
b
The Iroquois perform rituals to honor the twins in "The World on Turtle's Back," illustrating the Iroquoian belief that a.they must perform certain rituals in order to sustain the Earth. b.the twins are gods and it is important to show them devotion.
b
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
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
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.a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife b.the husband knew it was wrong c.he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World d.He . . . told his wife what he did
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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
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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.
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What does "The Origin of the Robin" suggest about Ojibwa views of the parent-child relationship? a.It suggests that children were encouraged to disagree with parents if necessary. b.It suggests that parents' words were held in very high regard. c.It suggests that parents were encouraged to allow their children liberty. d.It suggests that parents preferred that their children be independent.
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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.
a
Read this quotation from "The World on Turtle's Back." "The right-handed twin lives in the Sky-World and he is content with the world he helped to create. The left-handed twin lives in the world below. He, too, is content with the world of men. He delights in the sounds of warfare and suffering. These two beings rule the world and look after the affairs of men. During the day people have rituals to honor the right-handed twin. At night they dance and sing for the left-handed twin." According to this quotation, the two brothers represent gods and men. life and afterlife. good and evil.
c
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
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 a.demonstrate that right-handed people are good and left-handed people are bad. b.explain why some people do the right thing and others do not. c.provide the reason why the grandmother favored the left-handed twin. d.clarify what the Iroquois considered the two different sides of human nature.
d
