03: U.S. Monuments

The Great Grand Canyon
     The Grand Canyon is one of nature’s most spectacular formations.  Scientists believe that millions of years ago this area was created by movement under the Earth’s surface.  When the area moved, the Colorado River and its tributaries started flowing and cutting through the layers of rock.  As the river continued to move and flow, it eroded the rock, and deep gorges formed.  Rain and strong winds caused the gorges to deepen.  Some are as much as 5,000 feet deep.
     The canyon is made up of many brightly colored cliffs, valleys, hills, and plateaus.  The different colors on the rock walls mark different time periods in history.  The layers at the bottom of the canyon could have been formed over one billion years ago.  The plant and animal zones vary according to their depth in the canyon.  The arid zone located closest to the river supports cacti, just like the desert.  The zone at the top of the rim supports forests.
     To protect the varied ecosystems and awesome beauty of the canyon, the United States designated the area as a National Park in 1919, and UNESCO added it to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.  Tourists come to western Arizona year-around to visit the canyon.  There, it is possible to hike the trails or ride a mule.  Visitors also enjoy rafting, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding, and numerous other opportunities the park provides for tourists to view the beauty of the canyon and to observe the varied wildlife of this unique natural treasure.

1

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

1

Why was the Grand Canyon designated a National Park?

1

Which of the following statements best describes the reason for the second paragraph

1

According to the passage, which statement best explains how the Grand Canyon was formed?

1

As used in the passage, the word eroded most nearly means

1

According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

            The Statue of Liberty

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
-Emma Lazarus

     This poetic verse from the poem “The New Colossus” appears on the Statue of Liberty as a welcome to immigrants coming to America.  The statue sits on LIberty Island in the New York Harbor, the place where many ships brought foreigners into America.  In fact, the American Museum of Immigration is located inside the pedestal below the statue.
     Formerly known as “Liberty Enlightening the World” the Statue of Liberty represents a woman holding a torch and a law book  The torch is being raised in her right hand.  For years, the lighted torch helped many ships navigate the harbor.  The tablet is held in her left hand with the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) inscribed on it.
     The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French.  In 1865 a French historian, Edourad de Laboulaye, proposed the statue as a way to honor the alliance that was made between America and France during the American Revolution.  The people of France contributed money to have the statue built.  A French sculptor named Frederic Auguste Bartholdi designed and sculpted the statue by hammering sheets of copper together by hand.  The copper sheets were supported by a frame made of steel, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Eiffel Tower, the best known monument in Europe.
     When the statue was completed in 1885, it was taken apart, since it was too large to transport assembled, and sent by ship to the United States.  When it was rebuilt, it was unveiled and dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.  This statue is now one of America’s most popular monuments.

1

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

1

As mentioned in the passage, inscribed most nearly means

1

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

1

According to the passage, why is the Statue of Liberty important?

1

Which of the following statements best describes the reason for the third paragraph? (Do not include the poem excerpt as a paragraph)

Mount Rushmore
     The faces of four U.S. Presidents, memorialized in stone for their greatness, watch over America from a mountaintop in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  This huge sculpture, called the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.  Each portrait is sixty feet high and is visible from up to sixty miles away.
     Gutzon Borglum, an American sculptor, designed and oversaw most of the work on Mount Rushmore.  Before carving into the stone, Borglum made small models of the faces to serve as a guide.  In 1927, Borglum and his many workers started the project, which took one million dollars and fourteen years to complete.  Dynamite and drilling machines were used to carve the faces into the stone.  Unfortunately, Borglum died before the memorial was finished, so his son continued his father’s astounding project until funding was depleted in 1941.
     The presidents whose faces appear on the side of the mountain were chosen because of their contributions in shaping America into the democratic country that it is today.  George Washington was the first president and guided the creation of the nation.  Thomas Jefferson drafted the words to the Declaration of Independence.  This document asserted our independence and proclaimed that our nation was no longer under the rule of Great Britain.  Abraham Lincoln played an important role in unifying the country into one nation that valued freedom and equality.  Theodore Roosevelt led the United States during a time when America was becoming a world power.  Through hard work, vision, and determination, Gutzon Borglum and his son immortalized these great leaders in a majestic setting for all the world to remember.

1

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

1

As used in the passage, the word portrait most nearly means

1

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

1

Which of the following statements best describes the reason for the last paragraph?

1

According to the passage, how was the memorial constructed?

1

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

Why was the Grand Canyon designated a National Park?

Which of the following statements best describes the reason for the second paragraph

According to the passage, which statement best explains how the Grand Canyon was formed?

As used in the passage, the word eroded most nearly means

According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

As mentioned in the passage, inscribed most nearly means

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

According to the passage, why is the Statue of Liberty important?

Which of the following statements best describes the reason for the third paragraph? (Do not include the poem excerpt as a paragraph)

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

As used in the passage, the word portrait most nearly means

Which of the following best states the author's purpose?

Which of the following statements best describes the reason for the last paragraph?

According to the passage, how was the memorial constructed?

Which of the following best describes Gutzon Borglum's role in creating the memorial on Mount Rushmore?