Q 01/05

In Blood on the River, what does Captain Smith order Samuel to do on a storm-tossed ship to teach him cooperation?

A) Climb the rigging

B) Stand on one foot

C) Bail the hold alone

D) Scrub the whole deck

Answer · why

B) Stand on one foot

Stand on one foot is the order, and on a pitching deck Samuel cannot do it. Smith's lesson is that the wilderness is the same: nobody lasts there with...

Q 02/05

In Blood on the River, what marks out Captain Christopher Newport, the expedition's leader, when Samuel first sees him?

A) An eye patch

B) A scarred face

C) A white beard

D) A missing arm

Answer · why

D) A missing arm

A missing arm sets the fleet's commander apart on the dock. The real Newport lost his right arm in 1590, long before he sailed three shiploads of sett...

Q 03/05

In Blood on the River, what does Captain Smith teach Samuel as a weapon mightier than any sword?

A) The Algonquian language

B) Reading charts and maps

C) Shooting a matchlock musket

D) Setting snares for game

Answer · why

A) The Algonquian language

The Algonquian language is the weapon, though Samuel had hoped for a musket. Smith tells him the words will protect him inside the fort as well as out...

Q 04/05

In Blood on the River, which rule does Captain Smith lay down for everyone, himself included, on becoming president?

A) Gentlemen eat first

B) Church before breakfast

C) Work or go hungry

D) Gold before farming

Answer · why

C) Work or go hungry

Work or go hungry was the rule, and Smith pitched in himself. Sworn in on September 10, 1608, he shared out rations fairly, which made him popular wit...

Q 05/05

In Blood on the River, what contest does young Pocahontas win against Samuel on her first visit to James Town?

A) A wrestling bout

B) A running race

C) A swimming contest

D) A shooting match

Answer · why

B) A running race

A running race, and losing to a little girl stings Samuel's pride. She had stepped out of a canoe loaded with food for the settlers, wearing strings o...