Bill Pickett: Rodeo-ridin' Cowboy
In the Wild West nobody thought that a slave would become a rodeo cowboy one day but this all changed when the son of a former slave became the first African American rodeo star. What do you remember about this hope inspiring book? Take the quiz below and know for sure.
- 1.Which of these is a fact from the story?
- A.
Willie Pickett was more active than most children
- B.
Being in a rodeo is one of the most dangerous jobs
- C.
Bill Pickett's parents came from South Carolina
- 2.The author compares freedom to
- A.
Bluebonnet blossoms
- B.
The Texas prairie
- C.
Parched soil
- 3.How does the author describe Willie Pickett as a child?
- A.
The author says that Willi Pickett was as fast as a Texas tornado and as mean as a one-eyed horned toad.
- B.
The author says that Willie Pickett was quick as a jackrabbit, more wide-eyed than a hoot owl, and curious.
- C.
The author says that Willie Pickett was an average boy that liked to have fun on the ranch.
- 4.How did the Pickett family spend their evenings?
- A.
The Pickett family spent their evenings by singing and playing banjo.
- B.
The Pickett family spent their evenings by reading the bible and praying.
- C.
The Pickett family spent their evenings by swapping stories.
- 5.What interested Bill most at an early age?
- A.
Bill was most interested in catching lizards.
- B.
Bill was most interested in the cowboys who drove thousands of steers past his parent's farm.
- C.
Bill was most interested in helping his father in the fields.
- 6.Why was it hard at first for Bill to join the rodeo?
- A.
It was hard for him because he had to leave his family, and some people didn't want an African-American cowboy.
- B.
It was hard for him because he had to leave a job that earned lots of money for his family, and some people didn't want an African-American cowboy.
- C.
It was hard for him because he did not think he was as good as the other rodeo people, and some people didn't want an African-American cowboy.
- 7.Why did the Millers want to hire Bill?
- A.
The Millers wanted to hire him, because he could draw a crowd and put on a good show.
- B.
The Millers wanted to hire him, because they wanted to help African-American cowboys.
- C.
The Millers wanted to hire him, because he was a friend of an old family friend.
- 8.What did people do to show that they liked Bill's riding skills?
- A.
To show Bill they liked his skills, the people cheered and asked him to dinner.
- B.
To show Bill they liked his skills, the people clapped.
- C.
To show Bill they liked his skills, the people dropped coins in his hat.
- 9.Where does this story take place?
- A.
Utah
- B.
Arizona
- C.
Texas
- 10.How did Bill get a bull to do down without a fight?
- A.
He bit the animal's lip
- B.
He pushed the animal over
- C.
He sang a song to the animal
- 11.To pass the time on the slow, steady trek, the southerners sang traveling songs. Another word for trek is
- A.
Meal
- B.
Journey
- C.
Race
- 12.The cowboys looked at this brazen boy and went back to their work. Brazen means
- A.
Pushy
- B.
Thin
- C.
Shy
- 13.According to the story, bulldogging was invented by feisty Bill Pickett. Someone who is feisty is
- A.
Smart and proud
- B.
Calm and wise
- C.
Frisky and brave
- 14.One of the cowboys put forth a challenge. In this sentence, a challenge is
- A.
Something everyone already knows
- B.
Something that may be difficult to do
- C.
Something that makes people angry
- 15.Even when Bill Pickett was very young, he was itching for adventure. Adventure means
- A.
A fun or exciting experience
- B.
A place to call your very own
- C.
A treasure that makes you rich
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