Before the 1500's, the western plains of North America were dominated by farmers.

            One group, the Mandans, lived in the upper Missouri River country, primarily in  

            present-day North Dakota. They had large villages of houses built close together. The

 Line     tight arrangement enabled the Mandans to protect themselves more easily from the

 (5)       attacks of others who might seek to obtain some of the food these highly capable

            farmers stored from one year to the next.

                 The women had primary responsibility for the fields. They had to excercise

            considerable skill to produce the desired results, for their northern location meant

            fleeting growing seasons. Winter often lingered ; autumn could be ushered in by

 (10)      severe frost. For good measure, during the spring and summer, drought, heat, hail,

            grasshoppers, and other frustrations might await the wary grower.

                 Under such conditions, Mandan women had to grow maize capable of weathering

            adversity. They began as early as it appeared feasible to do so in the spring, clearing

            the land, using fire to clear stubble from the fields and then planting. From this point

 (15)      until the first green corn could be harvested, the crop required labor and vigilance.

                 Harvesting proceeded in two stages. In August the Mandans picked a smaller

            amount of the crop before it had matured fully. This green corn was boiled, dried, and

            shelled, with some of the maize slated for immediate consumption and the rest stored

            in animal-skin bags. Later in the fall, the people picked the rest of the corn. They saved

 (20)      the best of the harvest for seeds or for trade, with the remainder eaten right away or

            stored for later use in underground reserves. With appropriate banking of the extra

            food, the Mandans protected themselves against the disaster of crop failure and

            accompanying hunger.

                 The women planted another staple, squash, about the first of June, and harvested it

 (25)      near the time of the green corn harvest. After they picked it, they sliced it, dried it, and

            strung the slices before they stored them. Once again, they saved the seed from the best

            of the year's crop. The Mandans also grew sunflowers and tobacco ; the latter was the

            particular task of the older men.

 

            1. What is the main topic of the passage ?

               (A) The agricultural activities of a North American Society

               (B) Various ways corn can be used

               (C) The problems encountered by farmers who specialize in growing one crop

               (A) Weather conditions on the western plains

 

            2. The Mandans built their houses close together in order to

               (A) guard their supplies of food

               (B) protect themselves against the weather

               (C) allow more room for growing corn

               (A) share farming implements

 

            3. The word "enabled" in line 4 is closest in meaning to

               (A) covered

               (B) reminded

               (C) helped

               (A) isolated

 

 

 

            4. The word "considerable" in line 8 is closest in meaning to

               (A) planning                   (B) much

               (C) physical                   (A) new

 

            5. Why does the author believe that the Mandans were skilled farmers ?

               (A) They developed effective fertilizers.

               (B) They developed new varieties of corn.

               (C) They could grow crops in most types of soil.

               (A) They could grow crops despite adverse weather.

 

            6. The word "consumption" in line 18 is closest in meaning to

               (A) decay                      (B) planting

               (C) eating                      (A) conversion

 

            7. Which of the following processes does the author imply was done by both

               men and women ?

               (A) Clearing fields

               (B) Planting corn

               (C) Harvesting corn

               (A) Harvesting squash

 

            8.  The word "disaster" in line 22 is closest in meaning to

               (A) control

               (B) catastrophe

               (C) avoidance

               (A) history

 

            9. According to the passage, the Mandans preserved their food by

               (A) smoking

               (B) drying

               (C) freezing

               (A) salting

 

            10. The word "it" in line 25 refers to

               (A) June

               (B) corn

               (C) time

               (A) squash

 

            11. Which of the following crops was cultivated primarily by men ?

               (A) Corn

               (B) Squash

               (C) Sunflower

               (A) Tobacco

 

            12. Throughout the passage, the author implies that the Mandans

               (A) planned for the future

               (B) valued individuality

               (C) were open to strangers

               (A) were very adventurous