Origin Myths
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
Critical Reading
Identify the letter of the choice that best answers the question.
____
1. "The Earth on Turtle's Back," "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," and the excerpt from The Navajo Origin
Legend are origin myths. What are origin myths?
a. stories about talking animals
c. stories that explain how life or the world
began
b. stories about ancient people
d. stories that explain the present day
____
2. "The Earth on Turtle's Back" tells how something came to exist. What is it that grew on Turtle's back?
a. the sky
c. the sea
b. the Earth
d. the woman
____
3. From reading "The Earth on Turtle's Back," you can tell that the Onondaga value certain things in their
culture. Which two of these items do they value?
I. animals
II. clouds
III. riches
IV. dreams
a. I and III
b. II and IV
c. II and III
d. I and IV
____
4. Think about the animal characters in "The Earth on Turtle's Back." Which one is the archetype of the hero or
heroine who is determined to succeed, even though the character is not as strong as the others?
a. the Turtle
c. the Muskrat
b. the Loon
d. the Duck
____
5. Which important aspect of the world is explained by "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"?
a. how human beings came to be
c. how snow came to be
b. how bears came to walk like people
d. how ice came to be
____
6. According to "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," why do the Modocs never kill grizzly bears?
a. The grizzlies are their ancestors.
c. The grizzlies are magical.
b. The grizzlies are endangered.
d. The grizzlies are too fierce.
____
7. In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," the Chief of the Sky Spirits becomes angry with the grizzlies. What is
one reason for his anger?
a. He thinks the grizzlies stole his daughter c. He envies the grizzlies' life in the forest.
off the mountain.
b. The grizzlies have created a new race.
d. The grizzlies do not want to walk upright.
____
8. Which of the following would be a good title for the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend?
a. "Winds of Life"
c. "The Feather of Life"
b. "Mirage People"
d. "Corn and Buckskin"
____
9. In the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend, the ears of corn are laid out facing east and west. What part of
the natural world does this arrangement represent?
a. the shapes of the moon
c. the rising and setting of the sun
b. the mirages of the desert
d. the direction of the wind
____ 10. Based on the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend, what activity was a large part of Navajo life at this
time?
a. traveling to different places
c. giving thanks to their gods
b. observing eagles
d. raising corn
____ 11. What does the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend describe?
a. the first marriage
c. the creation of the gods
b. the first corn crop
d. the creation of the wind
Vocabulary and Grammar
____ 12. In which sentence is the meaning of the word protruded best described?
a. The Sky Spirit's daughter stuck her head c. The grizzlies raised the girl as if she were
up above the smoke hole.
one of their own cubs.
b. The Woman from the Sky fell through the d. The First Man and the First Woman were
hole left by the Great Tree.
created from ears of corn.
____ 13. Which of the following sentences from the Native American selections uses a coordinating conjunction?
a. He expected his child to look exactly as
c. Far below, in the waters, some of the birds
she had when he saw her last.
and animals looked up.
b. They were the first Indians, the ancestors d. The white ear of corn had been changed
of all the Indian tribes.
into a man, the yellow ear into a woman.
____ 14. Which of these would be some of your ancestors?
a. your grandparents
c. your niece and nephew
b. your sister and brother
d. your great-grandchildren
____ 15. Which of the following examples uses coordinating conjunctions?
a. "She has the Earth," they said. "Now
c. After many years had passed, the mother
where can we put it?"
grizzly bear knew that she would soon die.
b. Then the two Swans brought the Sky
d. The pair thus created were First Man and
Woman down.
First Woman (Atsé Hastin and Atsé
Estsán).
Critical Reading
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 16. Which of the following is a true statement about a myth?
a. Myths are usually about everyday people c. Myths often feature immortal beings.
and their daily lives.
b. All myths attempt to explain the origin of d. Myths rarely convey cultural values.
earthly life.
____ 17. "The Earth on Turtle's Back" explains the origin of
a. the sky.
c. the Earth.
b. the sea.
d. the Turtle.
____ 18. "The Earth on Turtle's Back" shows the importance the Onondaga placed on
a. rain.
c. strength in battle.
b. dreams.
d. old age.
____ 19. In "The Earth on Turtle's Back," what happens to the chief's wife when the Great Tree is uprooted?
a. She helps replant the tree.
c. She dreams of a way to restore the tree.
b. She falls through the hole left by the roots. d. She creates the Earth.
____ 20. Which of these sayings expresses a cultural value clearly suggested by "The Earth on Turtle's Back"?
a. Might makes right.
c. There's no place like home.
b. If you don't succeed, try, try again.
d. The meek shall inherit the earth.
____ 21. In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," the daughter places herself in a dangerous position because she is
a. shy.
c. self-destructive.
b. self-sacrificing.
d. curious.
____ 22. In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," the daughter of the Sky Chief and the son of the grizzly family marry,
have a family, and live in a special lodge. What modern archetype do these two characters represent?
a. opposites attract
c. a mythic hero
b. a frontier couple
d. the wisdom of age
____ 23. In punishing the grizzlies, the Chief of the Sky Spirits shows
a. compassion.
c. godlike wisdom.
b. human qualities.
d. fairness and objectivity.
____ 24. "When Grizzlies Walked Upright" explains the origins of
a. human beings.
c. snow.
b. the Earth.
d. ice.
____ 25. In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," what does the Sky Chief do to the grizzlies because of his anger?
a. He and his tribe hunt them.
c. He gives them a different language.
b. He chases them out of the forest.
d. He makes them walk on all four feet.
____ 26. In "When Grizzlies Walked Upright," why do Native Americans living near Mount Shasta never kill a grizzly
bear?
a. Grizzlies are a protected species.
c. Grizzlies are the Native Americans'
ancestors.
b. Grizzlies know the best streams for
d. Grizzlies are worshipped by the Native
fishing.
Americans.
____ 27. The selection from The Navajo Origin Legend shows the origin of
a. buckskin.
c. marriage.
b. corn.
d. funerals.
____ 28. In the ceremony described in the excerpt from The Navajo Origin Legend, the ears of corn are carefully laid
out with their heads to the west and their tips to the east. The arrangement of the corn reflects the importance
the Navajo placed on
a. the phases of the moon.
c. the prevailing west wind.
b. desert mirages.
d. the rising and setting sun.
____ 29. What part does the wind play in the ritual from the excerpt of The Navajo Origin Legend?
a. It arranges the ears of corn in rows.
c. It lays a trail through the corn.
b. It gives life to the man and woman.
d. It calls to the Mirage People.