Snowbound The Tragic Story Of The Donner Party

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| By Ejhassett
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Ejhassett
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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 102
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 103

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Snowbound The Tragic Story Of The Donner Party - Quiz


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    What did the emigrants use to start a fire?

    • A.

      Their Own Hair

    • B.

      Dried Buffalo Manure

    • C.

      Cow Hide

    • D.

      Old Clothing

    Correct Answer
    B. Dried Buffalo Manure
    Explanation
    The emigrants used dried buffalo manure to start a fire. Dried buffalo manure is a commonly used fuel source in certain regions where wood may be scarce. It is easily accessible and can be dried and used as a reliable source of heat and fire.

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  • 2. 

    The Donner Party were traveling west so that they could help in the Mexican war.

    • A.

      True

    • B.

      False

    Correct Answer
    B. False
    Explanation
    The given statement is false. The Donner Party was a group of pioneers who were traveling westward in 1846 to settle in California, not to help in the Mexican war. They were seeking a better life and opportunities in the newly acquired territories. However, they faced numerous challenges and ended up getting stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains, resulting in a tragic event known as the Donner Party tragedy.

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  • 3. 

    How many total people from the Donner Party survived the trip?

    • A.

      5

    • B.

      83

    • C.

      48

    • D.

      105

    Correct Answer
    C. 48
  • 4. 

    How many people in the Donner Party died on the trip?

    • A.

      40

    • B.

      17

    • C.

      89

    • D.

      3

    Correct Answer
    A. 40
    Explanation
    The correct answer is 40. The Donner Party was a group of pioneers who became stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter of 1846-1847. They faced extreme cold, starvation, and other hardships, resulting in the deaths of 40 members of the party.

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  • 5. 

    The Donner Party took advice from a book to take a shortcut.

    • A.

      True

    • B.

      False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    The Donner Party did indeed take advice from a book to take a shortcut. In 1846, while traveling to California, they followed the advice of Lansford Hastings' book "The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and California" and decided to take the Hastings Cutoff, a supposed shortcut that would save them time. However, this decision led them to encounter treacherous terrain and delays, ultimately resulting in them getting stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains and resorting to cannibalism to survive.

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  • 6. 

    Who was the author of the book that the Donners took theire misleading advice from?

    • A.

      Lansford W. Hastings

    • B.

      John C. Calhoon

    • C.

      Jeffrey Toppman

    • D.

      Jorge Washington

    Correct Answer
    A. Lansford W. Hastings
    Explanation
    Lansford W. Hastings is the correct answer because the question asks for the author of the book that the Donners took their misleading advice from. Since Lansford W. Hastings was a prominent figure who wrote a guidebook called "The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California," it can be inferred that the Donners took their misleading advice from this book. The other options, John C. Calhoon, Jeffrey Toppman, and Jorge Washington, are not mentioned in relation to the Donners or their advice, making them incorrect choices.

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  • 7. 

    Why did the party fear the Indians?

    • A.

      The Indians were likely to shoot the main men and take their money.

    • B.

      The Indians would take the children while they were sleeping.

    • C.

      While the cattle were off grazing or weren't in there harneses to pull the carriage, they would shoot the oxen or cows with a bow and arrow for its meat.

    Correct Answer
    C. While the cattle were off grazing or weren't in there harneses to pull the carriage, they would shoot the oxen or cows with a bow and arrow for its meat.
    Explanation
    The party feared the Indians because they would shoot the oxen or cows with a bow and arrow for their meat while the cattle were grazing or not in their harnesses to pull the carriage.

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  • 8. 

    Desperatley, a few members of the Donner Party had to turn to cannibalism of their own deceased members in order to stay alive.

    • A.

      True

    • B.

      False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    During their ill-fated journey, the Donner Party became stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains during the winter of 1846-1847. With limited food supplies and harsh weather conditions, they were left with no other choice but to resort to cannibalism in order to survive. This desperate act was a last resort to sustain themselves until help arrived.

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  • 9. 

    The trip out west on average took about 3 months.

    • A.

      True

    • B.

      False

    Correct Answer
    B. False
    Explanation
    The given statement is "The trip out west on average took about 3 months." The correct answer is False. This means that the statement is not true. The trip out west did not take about 3 months on average.

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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Jul 12, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 19, 2012
    Quiz Created by
    Ejhassett

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