Selection: J-31

J-31

Grade level: 10

Word count: 2321 words

Author: Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Synopsis: Harald, son of Viking explorer Erik the Red, led a life full of great adventure, excitement, and danger. This tale mixes fact and fantasy.

Excerpt: The Vikings discovered and settled lands far from their Scandinavian home. Most experts agree that the Vikings landed in North America long before Columbus set sail for the New World.

The myths and classic tales of Vikings portray these people as aggressive warriors who left destruction wherever they landed, pillaging whatever goods they found. Some of this is true, but there was far more complexity to the Viking culture. For example, most men living in Scandinavia at that time were farmers, fishermen, or craftsmen, not warriors.

When the youth returned to his father, he found Erik the Red directing the construction of one of the great Viking galleys, nearly 80 feet long and 17 feet wide and only six feet deep. The boat had 20 ribs, and the frame was fastened together by ropes made of roots. The oaken planks were held by iron rivets.

The oars were 20 feet long, and were put through oar holes, and the rudder, shaped like a large oar, was not at the end, but was attached to a projecting beam on the starboard side. The ship was to be called a "Dragon," and was painted to look like one, having a gilded dragon's head at the bow and a gilded tail on the stern. The moving oars would look like legs; and the row of red and white shields, hung along the side of the boat, would resemble the scales of a dragon; and the great square sails, red and blue, would look like wings.

Question: The first excerpt is from the website of a history program on TV, and the second is from the selection you just read. Based on the information provided in them, what conclusion can be drawn?

1. Much of the success of Viking explorers can be attributed to the skill of craftsman who never left their home country.
2. Viking ship-building was inferior to ship-building in other countries.
3. The strength and agility of Viking sailing vessels described in myths is baseless.
4. Viking ships were beautiful to look at, but failed miserably when on the open sea.

Selection: J-1

J-1

Grade level: 10

Word count: 2216 words

Author: Randi Bender

Synopsis: Accurate information is crucial during wartime, but disinformation may be just as important.

Excerpt: In 1943 the Allies were fighting in North Africa and had a heavy troop commitment there. It was clear that the time and cost of regrouping and transporting troops to Northern Europe for an invasion were impossible. An invasion would have to take place across the Mediterranean, from North Africa, where troops were amassed, to the southern shores of the European continent. British Intelligence assessed possible penetration points in France, Greece, and Italy.

Question: Based on this excerpt, British Intelligence identified France, Greece, and Italy as possible European invasion points because

1. these countries were in the proximity of North Africa.
2. these countries were sympathetic to the Germans.
3. none of these countries had an army of its own.
4. there were few German troops stationed in these countries.