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From Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Critical Reading: Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the
statement or answers the question.
_____1. Which statement best describes the purpose and audience for Of Plymouth
Plantation?
A. To explain to Pilgrims in other North American colonies how the
Plymouth settlers survived
B. To describe the natural setting and inhabitants of Massachusetts to
curious English readers
C. To inspire the descendants of the Mayflower colonists with a record of
their ancestors faith and courage
D. To entertain Pilgrim families with an amusing record of things that they
had said and done
_____2. According to William Bradford, which event caused the greatest loss of life
among these Pilgrim settlers?
A. storms during the Atlantic
C. raids by Hostile Indians
crossing
D. scurvy and other diseases
B. starvation during the first
winter
E.
F. _____3. In the first excerpt Of Plymouth Plantation, Bradford describes a
discussion between the passengers and crew of the Mayflower. From that
description, what inference can you make about those people?
A. They were willing to work hard to solve problems and achieve their goal.
B. They never would have set sail from Holland if they had known the
difficulties they would face at sea.
C. Each group thought itself superior to the other, so resolving differences
was a constant problem.
D. Because they were not particularly religious, the crew had a hard time
understanding the passengers point of view
G.
H. _____4. What is Bradfords likely purpose in noting the Pilgrims failure to
settle by Hudsons river?
A. To help describe the natural characteristics of the Cape Cod area
B. To provide a moment of humor during a tense situation
C. To emphasize Gods guidance in placing the colony at Plymouth
D. To inspire readers to reach for their goals in spite of obstacles.
I.
J. _____5. Toward the end of the first excerpt from Of Plymouth Plantation,
how does Bradford achieve his purpose of reminding his readers about the
Pilgrims dependence upon God?
A. He lists the many kinds of help that the pilgrims did not have to show that
God was their only source of help.
B. He compares the help that the Indians gave the Pilgrims to the help that
the barbarians gave the Apostle Paul in the Bible.
C. He quotes several of the Pilgrim leaders, who agreed about the need for
Gods help.
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D. He points out that although Samuel Fuller died during the journey, John
Howland survived because God honored his faith.
K.
L.
M. _____6. According to Bradford, how did Governor Carver show his patient,
fair, and wise character?
A. He established laws that everyone agreed to follow.
B. He settled peoples complaints during the harsh first winter.
C. He urged settlers to treat the Indians with kindness.
D. He worked out a system for taking care of the sick.
N.
O. _____7. Find the main idea of the following passage:
P.
And of these in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven
sound persons, who, to their great commendations be it spoken, spared no
pains, night or day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health,
fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds,
washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them.
Q.
R. Which of the following statements expresses the passages main idea?
A. Six or seven people risked their own health to tend the sick.
B. Six or seven people should receive great commendations.
C. Six or seven people worked hard.
D. Six or seven people washed the clothes of the sick.
S.
T. _____8.As winter was coming to an end, Samoset arrived. What did the
Pilgrims find so amazing about Samoset?
A. Samoset returned to the Pilgrims the tools that other Indians had stolen.
B. Samoset had lived in England for a time.
C. Samoset was the first Indian they had met who could speak English.
D. Samoset knew Massasoit, Squanto, and other influential Indians.
U.
V. _____9.In Bradfords account, the settlers attitude toward the Native
Americans changes from
A. respectful to disparaging
C. indifferent to cautious
B. friendly to antagonistic
D. suspicious to appreciative
E.
F. _____10. In calling Squanto a special instrument sent of God, Bradford
demonstrates his personal belief that
A. Squanto will become a convert of Christianity
B. The Pilgrims would have survived without Squanto
C. It is important to forgive ones enemies
D. The Pilgrims had God on their side.
G.
H. _____11. The incidents Bradford describes are most strongly connected
with Americans celebration of
A. Labor Day
C. Christmas Day
B. Thanksgiving Day
D. Independence Day (July 4th)
E.
F. _____12. Which statement best summarizes the treaty between the
Pilgrims and Massasoits people?
A. Massasoits people would teach the Pilgrims survival skills; the Pilgrims
would teach Massasoits people about Christianity.
B. Each group would set aside one third of its food supplies, to be shared if
famine arose.
C. The groups would live in peace with each other but would support each
other against enemies.
D. The treaty would stand for one year, but the groups would meet once a
year to draw up a new treaty.
