beans. Indeed, agriculture became so important to the Mississippians that it became closely
associated with the Sun – the guarantor of good crops. Many tribes called themselves
"children of the Sun" and believed their omnipotent priest-chiefs were descendants of the
great sun god.
Although most Mississippians lived in small villages, many others inhabited large
towns. Most of these towns boasted at least one major flat-topped mound on which stood a
temple that contained a sacred flame. Only priests and those charged with guarding the flame
could enter the temples. The mounds also served as ceremonial and trading sites, and at times
they were used as burial grounds.
01. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The development
of agriculture
(B) The locations of towns and villages
(C) The early people and cultures of the United States
(D) The construction of burial mounds
02. Which of the following resulted from the rise of agriculture in
the southeastern United
States?
(A) The development of trade in North America
(B) The establishment of permanent settlements
(C) Conflicts with other Native American groups over land
(D) A migration of these peoples to the Rocky Mountains
03. What does the term "Adena-Hopewell" (line 9) designate?
(A) The early locations
of the Adena-Hopewell culture
(B) The two most important nations of the Adena-Hopewell culture
(C) Two former leaders who were honored with large burial mounds
(D) Two important trade routes in eastern North America
04. The word "bartering" in line 13
is closest in meaning to
(A) producing
(B) exchanging
(C) transporting
(D) loading
05. The word "supplanted" in line 18
is closest in meaning to
(A) conquered
(B) preceded
(C) replaced
(D) imitated
06. According to
the passage, when did the Mississippian culture reach its highest point of
development?
(A) About A.D. 400
(B) Between A.D. 400 and A.D. 700
(C) About A.D. 1200
(D) In the sixteenth century
07. According to the passage, how did the agriculture of the Mississippians
differ from that of
their Hopewell predecessors?
(A) The Mississippians produced more durable and larger crops of food.
(B) The Mississippians sold their food to other groups.
(C) The Mississippians could only grow plants in warm, dry climates.
(D) The Mississippians produced special foods for their religious leaders.
08. Why does the author mention that many Mississippians tribes called themselves "children
of the Sun" (line 27)?
(A) To explain why they were obedient to their priest-chiefs.
(B) To argue about the importance of religion in their culture.
(C) To illustrate the great importance they placed on agriculture.
(D) To provide an example of their religious rituals.
09. The phrase "charged with" in line 31 is closest in meaning to
(A) passed on
(B) experienced at
(C)
interested in
(D) assigned to
10. According to the passage, the flat-topped mounds in Mississippian towns were used for
all of the following purposes EXCEPT
(A)
religious ceremonies
(B) meeting places for the entire community
(C) sites for commerce
(D) burial sites
