AnswersJPS English 11 24121L - S1The Iroquois Creation Myth: "The World on Turtle's Back"

The Iroquois Creation Myth: "The World on Turtle's Back" Answers

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Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back."In the Sky-World was a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife. His wife told him that she wanted some bark from the roots of the Great Tree. Though the husband knew it was wrong, he dug up the roots of the tree for his wife. In doing so, he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World, and was shocked to find empty space underneath. He was terrified and told his wife what he did.Which words in this excerpt support the idea that the husband was very devoted to his wife?

A
a man who aimed to please his pregnant wife
B
the husband knew it was wrong
C
he broke a hole in the floor of the Sky-World
D
He . . . told his wife what he did
2
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"The World on Turtle's Back" is a creation myth because it

A
focuses on characters whom the Iroquois considered "gods."
B
is an Iroquoian story about people and animals who talk to each other.
C
explains how the Iroquois believe that the earth was created.
D
describes Iroquoian social and cultural values.
3

Which sentence from "The World on Turtle's Back" best illustrates why the story is considered a creation myth?

A
The woman created a home for herself on this new earth and soon her daughter was born.
B
She told them that if they could find some soil, she could plant the roots from the Great Tree that were still tangled in her hands.
C
The woman placed the dirt on Turtle’s back and performed a ritual to create the earth.
D
She is called “our mother” and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow.
4

According to "The World on Turtle's Back," which best demonstrates the Iroquois view of women?

A
Women were viewed as clumsy and poor at making decisions.
B
Women were viewed as helpless without the support of men and animals.
C
Women were respected because they helped create and sustain the world.
D
Women were worshipped because they were the descendants of a goddess.
5

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back."The right-handed twin accused his brother of murdering their mother and their quarrels continued until it was time to bury their mother. With the help of their grandmother, they made her a grave. From her head grew the three sister plants, corn, beans, and squash. From her heart grew tobacco, which people still use to give thanks in ceremony. She is called “our mother” and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow.The excerpt suggests that the Iroquois believed that

A
sometimes good can come from tragedy.
B
mothers should be worshipped as goddesses.
C
corn, beans, and squash are essential for life.
D
dancing and singing can make plants grow.
6

In the beginning of "The World on Turtle's Back," why did the husband become "terrified"?

A
He was terrified the he might never see his wife again.
B
He was terrified that his wife might fall through the hole in the sky.
C
He was terrified that he would be punished for marring a sacred tree.
D
He was terrified that the Great Tree would fall into the ocean.
7

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back."The conflict between the twins continued, and for some reason, the grandmother favored the left-handed twin. The right-handed twin became angry and resentful. He was the truthful twin who always did the right thing. The left-handed twin was deceitful and did everything backward. You could never trust him.The twins represented the two ways of the world which are in all people. The Indians did not call these good and evil. They called them the straight mind and the crooked mind, the righteous man and the devious man, the right and the left.The main purpose of this excerpt is to

A
demonstrate that right-handed people are good and left-handed people are bad.
B
explain why some people do the right thing and others do not.
C
provide the reason why the grandmother favored the left-handed twin.
D
clarify what the Iroquois considered the two different sides of human nature.
8

The conflict between the right-handed brother and left-handed brother described in"The World on Turtle's Back" shows that the Iroquois most likely believed

A
right-handed children should be favored over left-handed ones.
B
there is an eternal battle between good and evil.
C
left-handed people are naturally evil.
D
most people are good and few are evil.
9

Read this quotation from "The World on Turtle's Back."The woman placed the dirt on Turtle's back and performed a ritual to create the earth. She walked around the dirt in the direction of the sun until the earth grew large enough. Then she planted the roots from the Great Tree and continued her ritual to keep the earth growing. Like the sun she kept moving around the earth, in the same direction the people still do in dance rituals today.The main purpose of this quotation is to

A
emphasize the importance of rituals in everyday life.
B
prove that animals played a major role in the creation of the Earth.
C
show why dancers move from east to west in rituals.
D
describe the Iroquois belief of how the Earth was created.
10

Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back."The animals thought that perhaps there was dirt at the depths of the ocean, but they had never tried to reach the bottom before. One by one they tried to swim down, but their attempts were futile. Finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean. After a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. He appeared to be dead, but the animals prayed and chanted, and finally he stirred. The Earth-Diver was successful in bringing forth the soil to make the earth grow.Which sentence from the excerpt best supports the idea that the muskrat was willing to sacrifice himself for the good of all?

A
Finally, the muskrat disappeared into the cold depth of the ocean.
B
After a lengthy amount of time, he drifted to the surface with a tiny speck of earth in his hand. He appeared to be dead. . . .
C
[T]he animals prayed and chanted, and finally he stirred.
D
The Earth-Diver was successful in bringing forth the soil to make the earth grow.

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