by the shores of silver lake book unit

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BY THE SHORES OF SILVER LAKE by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter One "Unexpected Visitors" Chapter Two "Grown Up" Chapter Three "Riding in the Cars"

1. A visitor came to the house on Plum Creek to offer Pa a job. Who was the strange woman?

a. Aunt Ruby b. Mrs. Nelson c. Aunt Docia d. Aunt Mary

2. Aunt Docia caught the Ingalls up on all the news from Wisconsin. She also mentioned the cat that Laura and Mary had left behind. What was the cat's name?

a. Black Nellie b. Black Susan c. Calico Sammy d. Beige Betty

3. Pa decides that the family will all move West. He tells Laura that he will go ahead with Aunt Docia and the family will follow on the________.

a. buggy b. wagon c. train d. surrey

4. Laura must say a good-bye to an old friend. Who is it? a. Jack b. Mr. Nelson c. Mr. Edwards d. Nellie Oleson

5. Laura saw a man with many gold buttons on his coat when they rode on the train. Who was he?

a. engineer b. a newspaper reporter c. conductor d. telegraph operators

6. What did Ma and the girls have to celebrate their first train ride? a. gum b. candy c. pink lemonade d. popcorn

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Chapter 4 "End of the Rails" Chapter 5 "Railroad Camp" Chapter 6 "The Black Ponies"

1. When the train stopped in Tracy, Laura and Carrie witnessed a wonderful sight. The engine of the train was turned around so the train could go in the opposite direction. The brakeman called this wonderful invention by what name?

a. turntable b. turnaround c. switcher d. spinner

2. Laura tells how each dish of food is covered with a screen in a funny shape to keep the flies away. What shape was the screen?

a. round b. square c. beehive d. flat

3. When the Ingalls arrive at the railroad camp, where does Laura sleep? a. a house b. the barn c. a tent d. the wagon

4. Who tries to frighten Laura and her cousin, Lena, by howling? a. Carrie b. Pa c. Uncle Hi d. Jean

5. Laura and Lena went to pick this up for Aunt Docia. What was it? a. supplies from the store b. the washing c. sugar d. needle and thread

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Chapter 7 "The West Begins" Chapter 8 "Silver Lake" Chapter 9 "Horse Thieves"

1. Among Pa's other jobs at Silver Lake, he would be the company storekeeper. How much would Pa earn each month?

a. $60 b. $50 c. $100 d. $500

2. Can you name the animal Laura had never seen in this chapter? a. horse b. bear c. deer d. buffalo

3. Pa tells Laura that only one tree grows for miles around. What was the nickname of the cottonwood?

a. Lone Tree b. Single Tree c. Only Tree d. Big Tree

4. Mary told Grace about this place where the ducks and geese quacked. What was its name?

a. Big Lake b. Deep Lake c. Big Slough d. Silver Slough

5. What was the name of the man who carried water to the men working on the railroad?

a. Big Jerry b. Old Johnny c. Uncle Hi d. Cousin Charley

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Chapter 10 "The Wonderful Afternoon" Chapter 11 "Payday" Chapter 12 "Wings Over Silver Lake."

1. What did Laura want to see on the Wonderful Afternoon she spent with Pa? a. a railroad being built b. men hitching the horses c. Lena and the black ponies d. the ducks on Silver Lake

2. Where did Ma hide the money to pay the men on pay day? a. the stove b. under the beds c. in a blanket chest d. in her sack of flour

3. Who helps Pa when the men try to make trouble about their paychecks? a. Big Jerry b. Uncle Hi c. Ma d. Aunt Docia

4. Pa brought a smelly bird to show Ma and the girls one day. What kind of bird did he bring?

a. swan b. duck c. pelican d. geese

5. What career did Laura know she must choose? a. homemaker b. teacher c. storekeeper d. nurse

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Chapter 13 "Breaking Camp" Chapter 14 "The Surveyors' House" Chapter 15 "The Last Man Out"

1. Just when Pa thought the family would have to go back East for the winter, they are offered a place to stay on Silver Lake. Whose house would they live in?

a. Mr. Boast's b. The Surveyors' House c. Uncle Hi's d. The shanty

2. Pa brings a new friend, Mr. Boast, to the shanty. What has Mr. Boast lost? a. His team b. His way c. His homestead d. His wife

3. What did Ma serve for supper as a special treat that first night in the Surveyors' House?

a. peaches and soda crackers b. cake and ice cream c. salt pork and potatoes d. candy and coffee

4. What animal frightened the Ingalls' family that first night in the Surveyors' House?

a. a bear b. a bobcat c. a wolf d. a buffalo

5. Pa taught Laura and Carrie to do what as he played his fiddle? a. sing b. dance c. fiddle d. yodel

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Chapter 16 "Winter Days" Chapter 17 "Wolves on Silver Lake" Chapter 18 "Pa Finds the Homestead"

1. What game did Pa make and teach Laura to play? a. chess b. checkers c. old maid d. backgammon

2. What did Laura and Carrie want to do on a moonlit night? a. play checkers b. build a snowman c. slide on the ice d. go for a walk

3. When Laura and Carrie played that night, what did they follow? a. Pa's path b. the moon path c. Silver Lake d. Surveyors' footprints

4. What frightened Laura and Carrie? a. bear b. bobcat c. skunk d. wolf

5. When Pa went on a wolf hunt, what did he find? a. the wolves b. a new neighbor c. the homestead site d. another lake

Name _______________________________________________ Date __________________



Chapter 19 "Christmas Eve" Chapter 20 "The Night Before Christmas" Chapter 21 "Merry Christmas"

1. Laura and Mary knitted Carrie a pair of mittens for Christmas. What color were the mittens?

a. red, white and blue b. yellow and green c. red and green d. white and blue

2. What sound did the Ingalls family hear outside the house on Christmas Eve?

a. wolves b. singing c. shouting d. wind

3. Who did Pa find at their door that Christmas Eve? a. Mr. and Mrs. Boast b. The Surveyors c. Mr. Edwards d. Uncle Hi and Aunt Docia

4. What present did Ma find at the breakfast table Christmas morning? a. a new stove b. bedsocks c. a new apron d. a new tea kettle

5. What surprise did Mrs. Boast bring to the Ingalls family? a. butter b. popcorn c. turkey d. soda crackers

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Chapter 22 "Happy Winter Days" Chapter 23 "On the Pilgrim's Way" Chapter 24 "Spring Rush"

1. Mrs. Boast gave Laura a stack of newspapers to read. What kind of story did Laura find to share with Ma, Mary and Carrie?

a. a comic story b. a continued story c. a rebus story d. a mystery story

2. Mrs. Boast also told the Ingalls about this fashionable new piece of furniture. What did she tell Pa how to make?

a. bedstead b. china cabinet c. whatnot d. sewing cabinet

3. Another visitor came to the Ingalls' door one night that winter. Who was this old friend?

a. Mr. Edwards b. Santa Claus c. Father DeSmet d. Reverend Alden

4. Ma and Mary are pleased to learn that there are what for blind people? a. seeing eye dogs b. colleges c. orphanages d. stores

5. How did Ma earn money while Pa went away to file on the homestead? a. by cooking and cleaning b. by taking in travelers c. by selling quilts d. by making butter to sell

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Chapter 25 "Pa's Bet" Chapter 26 "The Building Boom" Chapter 27 "Living in Town"

1. Who helped Pa file on the claim when two other men tried to keep him from getting to the Land Office first?

a. Mr. Boast b. Reverend Alden c. Mr. Edwards d. Reverend Stuart

2. How much money did Ma and Laura earn from the travelers? a. Over $50 b. Over $40 c. Under $30 d. Under $10

3. Laura and Mary got into an argument about what they would have in the stuffing for their goose dinner. Mary wanted sage. What did Laura want?

a. onion b. oregano c. potatoes d. green pepper

4. When they moved to Pa's building in town, Laura and Mary woke up to find this on their bed. What was it?

a. snow b. rain c. sunshine d. ice

5. What "first" did Laura do in the town of DeSmet? a. deliver the mail b. teach school c. make breakfast d. sew a new dress

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Chapter 28 "Moving Day" Chapter 29 "The Shanty on the Claim" Chapter 30 "Where Violets Grow"

1. What did Laura want to have if she were rich? a. dogs b. a big house c. horses d. new dresses

2. Pa brought a surprise from Lake Henry. What did Pa bring home? a. trees b. flowers c. a puppy d. duck

3. Who got lost while Pa planted the trees? a. Carrie b. Laura c. Mary d. Grace

4. What animal created the hollow where the violets grew? a. buffalo b. cattle c. deer d. wolves

5. Pa nailed this over the door of the shanty. What was it? a. horse shoe b. Ma's shepherdess c. rifle d. four leaf clover

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Chapter 31 "Mosquitoes" Chapter 32 "Evening Shadows Fall"

1. What did Pa call the screening that he bought to keep mosquitoes out of the shanty?

a. mosquito net b. a mosquito bar c. a mosquito screen d. a mosquito stop

2. Pa burned a smudge of damp grass to keep the mosquitoes away from this cow. What was her name?

a. Wreath of Roses b. Pete c. Ellen d. Sam

3. What did Ma blame for the mosquito problem? a. Pa b. prairie grasses c. Big Slough d. buffalo wallows

4. Laura imagined that the buffalo wallow was a_____________. a. a hidden cove b. a fairy ring c. secret place d. an enchanted ring

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BY THE SHORES OF SILVER LAKE by Laura Ingalls Wilder Discussion Questions

When Aunt Docia comes to the cabin on Plum Creek, the Ingalls' family had not seen her for a long time. Do you have relatives that you do not see often? Would you recognize them if they came to your door or would the be strangers? Do you think families are able to stay in touch more in our day than when Laura was young? Why? What do you think Laura or Ma would think of email?

Laura's dog, Jack, dies before they leave Plum Creek. Can you understand how Laura felt?

Laura and her sisters go for their first train ride in this book. Remember how excited they were by this event? Can you remember an exciting 'first' in your own life? What was it? How did you feel? Did you do something special to celebrate like Ma did when she bought the candy?

Laura meets her cousin, Lena at the railroad camp. Lena teaches her to ride the black ponies. Laura tries all day to do the tricks that Lena and Jean do on their ponies. Can you think of some skill or trick that you wanted to master as Laura did? How long did it take for you to learn to do it? How was your experience the same or different from Laura's?

When the Ingalls' family arrives on Silver Lake, Pa takes Laura to see how a railroad is built. Laura calls this the "Wonderful Afternoon." This must have been a special day for Laura. Have you ever had a special day, one you knew you'd always remember? What happened? What made it special? Who went with you?

Just as the Ingalls' family is sadly prepared to return East for the winter, they are offered the Surveyors' House for the winter. List some reasons why they were glad about this. What made Laura the happiest? Pa? Ma? Mary? Carrie? Has your family ever had an unexpected event that made everyone happy? What happened? Can you explain?

How would you feel if your family, like Laura's, were the last people for miles? Would you be afraid? Glad? Can you imagine not having a neighbor for more than sixty miles? If you don't have neighbors, could you describe what this is like for someone who does? What do you like or dislike about having neighbors or not having neighbors?

Laura describes a Christmas in the Surveyors' House. How is your Christmas' the same or different from hers? Laura describes this as the happiest Christmas she's had. What was your happiest Christmas? Why? Did you like the idea that the family all made gifts for one another out of what they had available? Why? Why not? Do you think this would be fun or boring? Do you ever make gifts for your family? Do you think they appreciate them more or less than something bought from a store?

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Discussion Questions, continued

Mrs. Boast gives Laura newspapers to take home. Why do you think Laura was so excited over a newspaper? Why do you think she and her sisters were so glad to have the continued stories to read? Can you imagine a world without television, movies, book, magazines or radio for entertainment? This was Laura's world. Newspapers were very important. What entertainment would you miss if you could travel back in time to Laura's winter in the Surveyors' house?

When the Reverend Alden tells Ma about the college for the blind in Iowa, why is she so excited? What will this mean to Mary? Ma and Laura want so much for Mary to go but they are certain it costs too much. Have you ever had a desire to do something but known that it was too expensive? How did that make you feel? Do you think you can understand Ma, Mary and Laura's feelings? Were you glad to read that Ma began to charge to keep travelers so she could save money for Mary to go to college? Was Laura glad to help her sister?

How do you think Laura felt to see the town of DeSmet begin growing before her eyes? Was she happy or sad to see a town where there was once just a wild prairie? Have you ever had a similar experience? Did someone build a house or a building near where you lived or in a place where you could watch it appear from the ground up? Was it fun to watch? Were you happy or sad to see the new building? Laura writes that Pa is sad because the geese will not stop on Silver Lake when they hear the hammers. What do you think happens to the animals and birds when someone builds?

Laura is glad when the family can leave Pa's building in town to move to the claim shanty. Why do you think she is happy? Do you think your family could be happy living this way? Why? Why not?

Pa brings trees to plant around the shanty because Ma and the girls wish for trees. Can you name something you would miss if you lived on the prairie in Laura's day? Would you wish for trees?

Grace disappears while Pa plants the trees. Why was the Ingalls' family so frightened when they couldn't find her? Has anything like this happened to your family? Did a little brother or sister wander away in a store or out of your yard? Have you ever known someone this might have happened to? Why is it so scary? What are some safety tips you might learn to prevent this from happening in your family?

When Laura finds Grace in a buffalo wallow covered in fragrant violets, she imagines that it is a fairy ring. Have you ever imagined some secret places like this? What did it look like? Were you disappointed to find that Laura's "fairy ring" was made by rough, dirty buffalo?

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Writing Prompt

Imagine that you have been invited to spend the winter with the Ingalls' family in the Surveyors' house. Make a list of all the fun activities you and Laura could do to keep busy. Would you like to sew? Build snowmen? Cook? Play hide and seek? Slide on the ice? Name at least four activities and write a short sentence about why Laura would enjoy this too.

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Answer Key

Chapters 1, 2 & 3 1. C 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. C 6. B

Chapters 4, 5 & 6 1. A 2. C 3. C 4. D 5. B

Chapters 7, 8 & 9 1. B 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. B

Chapters 10, 11 & 12 1. A 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. B

Chapters 13, 14 & 15 1. B 2. A 3. A 4. C 5. B

Chapters 16, 17 & 18 1. B 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. C

Chapter 19, 20 & 21 1. A 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. B

Chapters 22, 23 & 24 1. B 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. B

Chapters 25, 26 & 27 1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A 5. B

Chapters 28, 29 & 30 1. C 2. A 3. D 4. A 5. A

Chapters 31 & 32 1. B 2. C 3. C 4. B

by the shores of silver lake book unit

Education