Before taking this test, please read the novel Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder!
Please answer the questions to the best of your abilities. When you have answered all of the questions, click the "Check Answer" button. A box will pop-up with your score. Do not close until your score is printed or reviewed by your teacher.
Name the members of the Ingalls family. (choose 5)
Where are the Ingalls family going?
Gold Country
California
Oregon
Indian Country
When do they need to cross the Mississippi River?
before winter
after the first snow
before the ice breaks
after spring thaw
Almost everything from the little house fit in the wagon. What did they have to leave behind? (Choose 2)
Fill in the Blank: Pa hung his _____ to the wagon bows inside the canvas top.
gun
bow and arrow
suspenders
lantern
The town of Pepin looked empty. Who were the only ones the Ingalls family saw?
two or three men
little children
Grandma and Grandpa
one small family
Fill in the Blank: Even though Laura was scared, she felt safe. "Nothing could hurt her while _____ and _____ were there."
Mary, Carrie
Ma, Jack
Pa, Jack
Ma, Pa
Pa said, "How do you like that, little half-pint of sweet cider half drunk up?" Who is "little half-pint of sweet cider half drunk up"?
Baby Carrie
Laura
Mary
Ma
In which state did they cross the Mississippi?
Minnesota
Kansas
Wisconsin
Illinois
How did they cross the Missouri River?
drove the wagon onto a ferry
horses swam and pulled the wagon
walked across the frozen ice
drove the wagon onto a raft
When the wagon got stuck in the mud, how did Pa get it out?
wait for days until the mud dried
used grass to gain traction
asked some local men to help him
tied on extra horses to pull harder
What did Mary and Laura name the ponies?
Pet and Patty
Freckles and Thunder
Fury and Trigger
Oscar and Ernie
Which state did they NOT see on the way from the Big Woods of Wisconsin to Kansas?
Minnesota
Missouri
Iowa
Illinois
Fill in the Blank: When they reached the high-water of the creek, Pa said he could tell it was a _____ because of the wheel ruts.
ford
bridge
dead end
ferry
What did Ma tell the girls to do when the wagon balanced on the water?
lie down
climb out of the wagon
climb on the wagon seat
start swimming
Why did Pa give the Pet and Patty's reins to Ma?
Ma wanted a turn driving
Pa was too scared
Pa went to help the girls
Pa jumped in the creek
Who had they forgotten on the other side of the creek?
Carrie
Mary
Ma
Jack
Once they reached the prairie, what was the only thing they could see for miles?
big city buildings
miles and miles of roads
horses and cows
tall wild grass
Why did Pa remove all the grass from the area before building a fire?
he didn't want Pet and Patty getting too close
he wanted to make the beds close to the fire
a prairie fire could destroy the whole country
What is NOT a reason that Pa thought they might stay here?
plenty of game
timber in the bottoms
good land
plenty of neighbors
Everyone was very excited that Jack was back except Ma. Why was Ma upset?
they had woken up Baby Carrie
Jack got the children all dirty
Jack was injured
Ma had been asleep
Laura was not allowed to feed Jack while she ate. What did she do instead?
let Mary feed him
saved bits for him
set her plate on the ground
sat on the wagon where Jack could not reach
Ma washed the sheets, pillowcases, and clothes in the tub. How did she dry them?
spread them over the top of the wagon
shook them in the breeze
hung them on the line
spread them on the grass in the sun
How did Pa know that the Indians would not be here for long?
The Indians had told him that they were leaving the area.
He knew that the Indians often moved from place to place.
He knew the army was coming to watch over the new settlements.
A man from Washington told him that the Indian Territory would be open to settlement.
What did Ma lay the clothes on to iron them with the heated sadiron?
wagon bed
wagon seat
the new table
flat ground
Fill in the Blank: As Pa was playing the fiddle, Laura was sure that part of the music came from _____.
the horses
the wolves
the Indian camp
the stars
Why did Pa stop the wagon?
this was where they would build a house
Ma told him that the girls were ill and needed to rest
Patty and Pet needed a rest
to help an injured animal
What did Pa do after he unloaded the wagon and put the wagon cover over the top of the pile?
used the wagon and canvas to make a tent
unhitched Patty and Pet
gave Ma a present
took off the wagon-box
Why did Pa make two separate piles of logs?
one for a barn and one for fences
one for the house and one to sell
one for the Ingalls and one for Mr. Edwards
one for the house and one for the stable
What happened when the heavy log started sliding?
Pa couldn't stop it and it landed on Ma's foot when it crashed to the ground
Pa got caught underneath and broke his leg
Pa couldn't stop it and Mary and Laura were trapped underneath
Pa caught it and kept it from crashing to the ground
After Ma was injured, what did Pa build to help them lift the logs onto the wall?
a pulley system
ladders
flat skids
stone steps
Fill in the Blank: This new neighbor told Laura that he was a _____ from _____.
Ranger, Texas
wildcat, Tennessee
husky wolf, Kentucky
lawman, Montana
After finding someone to help him, how long did it take Pa to get the walls as high as he wanted them?
three days
one day
a week
two hours
Who sang for Mr. Edwards as he returned home after they finished the house?
Pa and Carrie
Laura and Mary
Pa and Laura
Ma and Mary
Why did Pa want them to move into the house quickly?
he hear wolves from every direction
he was tired of sleeping on the ground
Winter was coming
Indians were camped near by
What did Pa stretch over the top of the skeleton roof of the house?
the canvas wagon-top
animal hides
tree branches full of leaves
the rest of the logs
What does Ma want Pa to make when their house, Mr. Edward's house, and the stable were finished?
a beautiful garden bench
shelves for all of her books
a clothes-line
a new wash tub
Independence was the nearest town with a post office. How far away was it?
40 miles
100 miles
75 miles
10 miles
How long did it take Pa and Mr. Edwards to build the whole stable, roof and all?
one week
three days
one day
two hours
What did Laura find when Pa removed the posts from the door of the stable one morning?
a wolf
the horses were gone
a long-legged, long-eared colt
a raccoon
Pa rode out on Sunday to see what he could see. Why did Pa ride Patty so hard on the way back?
a snake had scared Patty
he thought the Indians had seen him
Patty was running from the wolves
a grizzly bear was chasing him
Pa found a family with five children camped in the creek bottoms. What was wrong with them?
they ran out of supplies
the father had broken his leg
they were sick with fever 'n' ague
their wagon broken and needed repairs
When Pa coaxed Laura to come to the window in the middle of the night, what did she see right outside?
a prairie fire coming their way
Mr. & Mrs. Scott sitting by the campfire
Mr. Edwards riding in on a donkey
a half-circle of wolves sitting and watching the house
What did Pa use instead of nails?
animal bones
wooden pegs
barbed wire
string
What had Pa done before setting the door in place?
took Mary and Laura fishing
started on the stable door
made a latch to keep the door shut
built a clothes-line for Ma
What did Pa make to allow the door to be opened from the outside?
a big handle
a latch-string
a door knob
a wooden lever
Which of the following was the good, sturdy door missing? (Choose 3)
The barn door was exactly like the house door except for one thing. What did the barn door NOT have?
hinges
a latch
oak slabs
leather straps
What did Pa promise to make as soon as Mr. Edward's house was finished?
a fireplace
a table and chairs
beds
a clothes-line
What happened when Laura tried to catch a minnow in the creek?
she caught a frog instead
her dress got wet
she pushed Mary in the water
she lost her balance and fell
What did Pa do after finishing the chimney with sticks and mud?
went in the house and cut a hole in the wall
built a fire to dry and harden the mud
climbed inside the chimney to put a hole inside
built a fire in the new fireplace
After Pa built a mantel-shelf over the top of the fireplace, what did Ma put right in the middle?
a family portrait
a vase of flowers
her china woman
Pa's gun
Pa had made a table from two slabs of oak stuck out from a crack in the wall. What did they use for chairs?
chunks of big logs
they stood on their knees
boxes of supplies
they sat on the floor
Laura and Mary stayed busy all day long. What happened when they hunted birds' nests in the tall grass?
Pa scolded them
the wolves found them
the birds flew away
the mother birds squawked at them
Fill in the Blank: Laura and Mary spent a lot of time watching Baby Carrie. They watched her all the time except when ______.
Ma gave Carrie her bath
Jack took his turn as babysitter
Pa was changing diapers
Carrie was napping
Why did Pa make everyone come outside of the house while he worked on the roof?
to help haul slabs to the top
to spend the day swimming
so that nothing could fall on anyone
so they could watch him work
Pa made a little trough of two slabs. What did he do with it?
nailed it over the crack in the top of the roof
nailed it to the top of the roof to catch water
used it to climb to the top
used it to water the horses
Pa split the logs using his ax and a wedge. Then he trimmed the edges to fit them against each other. How did he smooth the wood?
rubbed them down with leather straps
used sand from the creek bank
used little, careful blows of his ax
rain water over the edges
Why did Pa leave a space bare near the fireplace?
to use maple wood instead
to protect the floor from catching fire
to put the kitchen table
to protect the floor from catching fire
Pa hopes for success at hunting and trapping this winter. What does he hope to buy?
seeds
glass
furniture
livestock
Why can't Jack go hunting with Pa?
he must stay and guard the place
Mary and Laura begged Pa to let them play with Jack
he is not a hunting dog
he was injured when the wolves came to the house
When Laura and Mary peeked in the house, where were the Indians?
standing right inside the doorway
sitting at the kitchen table
standing by the fireplace
laying on a rug in front of the fireplace
What caused the horrible smell that filled Laura's nose?
the skunk skins that the Indians wore
a skunk ran into the house
the beaver pelts that the Indians wore
the meat that mother was stirring in a pot on the fire
What did the Indians do when they came into the house?
they put out the fire and spilled the stew
they ate the stew cooking on the fire
they made Laura and Mary let the horses loose
they ate the cornbread that Ma had baked
What did Ma do once the Indians left the house?
ran outside to see which way they went
asked the girls to help her get dinner ready
started packing up their supplies
sat at the table and started crying
What did Pa build and peg right to the wall in a corner of the house?
a kitchen table
a bedstead
a well
a bathroom
Pa dug the hole as deep as he could, then he decided that he needed some help. Who did he agree to trade work with?
Mr. Edwards
Mr. Scott
the bachelors
the Indians
Laura loved to play outside and watch Pa and his friend work. What did Mary do instead?
sew on her patchwork quilt
play dolls with Carrie
help Ma with the laundry
ride Patty around the yard
What happened to Mr. Scott when he climbed into the well before first sending down the bucket?
he started coughing
he fainted
he was bit by a snake
he hit his head
What had caused Mr. Scott to pass out while they were digging the well?
a gas that was deep underground
he had fallen in head first
the bucket hit his head
a snake bit him
What happened when Pa dropped the bundle down into the well?
he shot it with his gun
it exploded
the well filled with water
it caught on fire
What did Pa cover the well with?
a solid platform with a hole for the bucket
a small, round bench to sit on
a small house with a little door
Laura heard a low sound in the distance. Pa said it was cattle. Where did Pa say the cattle herds must be going?
Montana
Texas
Fort Dodge
Fort Leavenworth
The cowboys needed Pa's help. What would Pa need to do?
provide food for the cattle and the men
help herd the cattle through the creek
keep the cattle out of the ravines
join the cattle drive to replace an injured cowboy
Pa told the cowboys he would not charge them money. What did he ask for in trade?
a good piece of beef
a new saddle
a good milk cow
a new horse
Why had the cowboys given Pa the animals along with the beef he asked for?
the cowboys had too many cattle to drive
they were injured
they were too small and thin
Pa paid the cowboys for them
What happened when Pa first tried to milk the cow?
she gave the sweetest milk ever
she kicked him
the calf jumped on Pa
she ran away
As the days grew hotter, what happened to the grass?
it got taller
it died out
it turned green
it turned yellow
What did Pa do with the treasures that Laura and Mary had found at the Indian camp?
threw them in the creek
made the girls leave them where they found them
put them in his pocket
tied them in his handkerchief
Fill in the Blank: Laura was excited. They _____ were ripe and she went with Ma to pick them on hot afternoons.
apples
blackberries
blueberries
strawberries
A man with dark skin came to check on them. Laura remembered that he had given her something to drink when she was sick. Who was he?
a neighbor
Mr. Scott
Dr. Tan
Mrs. Scott's brother
What did Pa do since he wasn't able to work after being ill?
laid in bed, too sick to move
make Ma a rocking-chair
made the girls a toy train
made Jack a dog house
Fill in the Blank: Fever 'n' ague is really _____, and _____ spread the disease to people.
yellow fever, watermelons
cholera, mosquitoes
malaria, bad waters
malaria, mosquitoes
How far must Pet and Patty pull the wagon to get to town?
20 miles a day, for 2 days
5 miles a day, for 2 days
10 miles a day, for 3 days
20 miles a day, for 4 days
What is NOT something that Pa did to prepare for his trip to town?
hunt for meat
stack the small stack of hay
cut and stack the winter's firewood
plant the fields
Who threw a pail of water on the chimney fire to put it out?
Mr. Edwards
Mary
Ma
Pa
What did Pa tell Ma to do with the feathers from all the birds he would shoot?
make feather pillows
make a featherbed
make stuffed toys for each of the girls
make a feather boa
Ma has a grocery list for Pa. What does she need? (choose 4)
Why did Mr. Edwards come to visit while Pa was gone?
to take them into town after Pa
to check to see if everyone was alright
to tell them that Pa was injured
to do the chores
What was NOT something that caused trouble for Pa on his trip to town?
blizzard
frozen mud
wind
rain
Fill in the Blank: Pa said he that he thought the Indian, he met in the woods, must be from the _____ tribe.
Cheyenne
Crow
Osage
Sioux
Horse thieves were in the area. Whose horses had they stolen?
the Indians'
Mr. Edward's
Pa's
Mr. Scott's
What would Pa do with the furs he collected?
make blankets and coats for the family
trade them in Independence
sell them to Indians
use them to trap bigger animals for food
Pa said that the Ingalls had gotten the best land. Why?
they paid a lot of money for it
they were the first to get here
the government had awarded it to them
the Indians gave it to them
Mary and Laura were afraid that Santa Claus would not make it for Christmas. Why did Laura think he would not come?
Santa would be afraid of the local Indians
the rain would keep Santa away
Santa wouldn't find them in Indian Territory
the reindeer couldn't travel without snow
The Ingalls family could not expect Mr. Edwards to come to dinner on Christmas day. Why not?
he told Pa he would be going to Independence
he was too ill to travel
he was visiting family
the creek's current was strong
How had Mr. Edwards kept his clothes and the packages dry while he crossed the creek?
he went the long way around the creek
he carried them on his head
he piled them on top of his horse
he jumped across the creek
Mr. Edwards said that Santa had yelled out to him and asked him if he knew Mary and Laura. Laura asked Mr. Edwards how he knew him. What did Mr. Edwards say?
He said that the store owner had told Santa Claus who he was.
He said he introduced himself to Santa Claus.
He said that he had met Santa Claus before.
He said Santa Claus knew everybody.
Fill in the Blank: When the girls asked Mr. Edwards about Santa's reindeer, he said that Santa didn't use his reindeer in the west. In the west, he used a _____.
donkey and wagon
train
pack-mule
horse and buggy
What was the shiny thing that was in the top of Mary and Laura's stockings?
a pretty necklace
a new tin bowl
a new tin cup
a tintype of the family
What kind of candy did the girls find in their stockings?
caramels
chocolate bars
peppermint sticks
pixie sticks
As the days were growing short and gray, what does Pa do every day?
plant the fields
hunt and trap
work with the horses
cut down trees
What is NOT a game that Laura and Mary play with Carrie?
20 Questions
Patty Cake
Cat's Cradle
Hide the Thimble
Where did Pa see the panther?
on the roof
at Mr. Scott's
in a tree top
in the shed
Mary and Laura counted the days until Pa returned from town. When did they start worrying and earnestly watching for him?
the tenth day
the fifth day
the second day
the seventh day
Why didn't Pa bring home any white sugar from town?
he likes brown sugar better
he didn't make it to the store
there wasn't any available
it cost too much
What was in the package that Pa brought for Ma?
calico for a dress
jewelry
a pretty figurine
new cotton for linens
What did Pa bring Mary and Laura from town?
hair combs
slates and charcoal
new dresses
new books
Pa said that folks in Independence said that the government was going to make the white settlers leave Indian Territory. Why did people think this would happen?
the Indians had been complaining
the Indians were raiding the white settlements
the white settlers were taking the Indians' lands
the white settlers were afraid of the Indians
Pa hitched up Pet and Patty to the breaking-plow. What was he going to do?
break the prairie sod
dig a ditch
drive into town
plant a field
What did Pa do to try and stop protect the family from the fire?
plowed up the dirt in long furrows beside the house
wet down the grass in front of the house
put all of the animals in the house with the family
loaded up all they could grab and drove the wagons to the creek
Pa said that the Indians always burned the prairie grass. Why?
to chase away unwanted settlers
to help green grass grow quickly
to clear and area to build their village
to prepare the area for plowing fields
Why are so many Indians coming to this area?
to plant crops in the fields
to get ready for the big spring buffalo hunt
to get ready for deer hunting season
to start a war with the white settlers
One the worst night of the Indian war cries, Pa was watching the out the window. What were the Indians doing?
quarreling among themselves
building new teepees
finishing the fields Pa had started
hunting buffalo
Finally, Pa left to do some scouting by the creek. He saw many deserted Indian camps along the creek. Only one tribe was left. What was the name of that tribe?
Osage
Apache
Cheyenne
Sioux
Fill in the Blank: Pa said that Soldat de Chene was a good Indian, no matter what _____ has to say about it.
Mr. Edwards
Ma
the President
Mr. Scott
Pa called for Laura, Mary and Ma to come outside. Who was coming?
Mr. & Mrs. Scott
Mr. Edwards
Santa
Indians
What did Laura ask Pa for as the Indians passed by?
a friend to play with
a ride on Bunny
an Indian baby
a doll like the Indian girls had
Laura could not explain why she wanted that Indian baby. What did she say?
"It is so little."
"It is so cute."
"Its hair is so black."
"Its eyes are so black."
Who had sent out word that it would be alright for the Ingalls family to settle on the prairie?
the Mayor of Independence
politicians in Washington
soldiers at Fort Dodge
politicians in Kansas
What had Mr. Scott and Mr. Edwards come to tell Pa?
soldiers were coming by to visit with the settlers
soldiers were coming to make them leave
the Indians were returning
the would need to move to Independence
What was Mr. Edwards going to do when he left the Prairie?
travel with the Ingalls family
move into Independence
return to Tennessee
make a boat and head down the river
How did Mr. Edwards say good-by to Mary and Laura?
shook their hands
told them he would write to them
gave them gifts
gave them hugs
What was the first thing that was done to pack the wagon?
all of the bedding was made into 2 beds across the back of the wagon
all of the furniture was loaded
the horses were hitched up to the wagon
all of the feed for the animals was boxed up and placed in the back of the wagon
Where did Ma pack all of the food and the dishes?
in boxes under the wagon seat
in boxes to be tied underneath the wagon
in the cupboard that Pa placed under the wagon seat
in the cupboard nailed into the back of the wagon
What did Pa lay at the end of the bed so that it would ride softly?
his fiddle
the tin lantern
the rocking chair
his rifle
What was the only thing that they could not take along with them this time?
the horses
the rocking chair
the tub
the plow
Why did Pa leave the latch-string hanging outside of the door when he closed it?
to keep everyone else out of the house
to let people know that they had left
to keep wild animals from overtaking the house
for anyone who might need shelter
When the family came upon a light-colored bump in the distance, they noticed it was not moving. What was it?
an Indian teepee
a stack of supplies
a sleeping bear
a covered wagon
What will Pa do to help the couple, on the side of the road, since they will not go with the Ingalls family to Independence?
tell the captain of the soldiers in Independence
drop off Ma and the girls and then take the couple to the little house