Chapter 1 Test A (1 of 5) The First Americans
Name Date
Vocabulary Match the definitions with the correct terms.
Definitions Terms
a. a person who moves often in search of food 1 government
b. a system for bringing water to dry fields; developed by the 2 irrigation
Aztecs
3 adapt
c. systems for making rules and decisions to help guide a
group 4 nomad
d. a group whose member nations share the same goals 5 league
e. to change in order to survive the conditions one faces 6 economy
f. the system by which a group makes, shares, and uses goods
Key Concepts Choose the letter of the correct answer.
6. How do most experts think the first people came to North America?
A by walking across a land bridge over the Bering Strait
B by sailing from Europe
C by sailing from Japan
D Humans were always in North America.
7. About 10,000 years ago, people began to plant crops. This allowed them to stay in one
place. The planting and raising of crops is called
F irrigation.
G economy.
H agriculture.
I government.
8. Which of the following was an achievement of the Maya civilization?
A They developed longhouse communities after they began to farm.
B They developed a system of trade with Asian civilizations.
C They charted the sun, moon, and stars. They used the information they obtained to create
a very accurate calendar.
D They invented firearms.
Building Our Country
Chapter 1 Test A (2 of 5) The First Americans
Name Date
9. Native Americans in the Southwest developed agriculture. The Inuit created the kayak and
used their cold environment to their advantage. The Maya created a system of writing and
a calendar. Which statement BEST summarizes these facts?
F Native Americans adapted to their environment and developed diverse cultures before
the Europeans arrived.
G Native Americans used European civilizations as the basis for their own.
H There were no Native American cultures when the Europeans arrived in North America.
I All Native Americans were hunter-gatherers.
10. Which answer BEST explains why early Native Americans spread throughout
North America?
A They wanted to find a sea route to Asia.
B Before they started farming, they followed animal herds across the continent.
C They were fleeing the Vikings, who had come to conquer North America.
D They hoped to spread Christianity to all of the people in the continent.
12. Which of the following is an example of a Native American economy?
A The Native Americans looked to their shamans for religious guidance.
B The Maya developed a system of tracking the sun, moon, and stars.
C The ancient Puebloans abandoned their cliff dwellings in 1300 AD.
D The Powhatans built canoes and tools to catch fish in the waters that surrounded
their homeland.
13. Which of the following is an example of ways Native Americans changed their
environments to improve their lives?
F The Iroquois formed a league, which governed five nations.
G In California, Native Americans burned shrubs and forest underbrush so that grasses would
grow. The grasses attracted deer and made deer hunting easier.
H Native American women played the main role in raising children.
I Native Americans from different regions spoke different languages.
14. Which of the following is NOT a Native American cultural region?
A Pacific Northwest
B Atlantic Southwest
C Northern Woodlands
D Plains
Chapter 1 Test A (3 of 5) The First Americans
Name Date
15. Which answer is the BEST definition of culture?
F Culture refers to the type of farming a people develop.
G Culture is a system of warfare.
H Culture is the way of life of a people. It includes their art, rules, beliefs, and history.
I Culture is the system by which a people make, share, and use goods.
16. Which of the following was a role of women in Native American societies?
A hunting and leading warfare
B trading with other Native peoples
C making clothing and other household goods
D protecting the community from enemies
17. Which answer is true about Native American children?
F Female children were forced to fight constantly to prepare them for warfare.
G Children usually led hunting parties.
H Children helped their mothers at home and trained for adulthood through games and
activities.
I In each village, a single Native American woman, called the kachina, raised all
of the children.
18. Which answer is true about Native American councils?
A Councils were a form of economy.
B Councils made decisions. Their members were usually the society’s leaders.
C Councils were religious groups.
D Only women were allowed to be members of councils.
19. Which Native American nation in the Northern woodlands formed a union of nations
called a league?
F the Iroquois
G the Puebloans
H the Mayans
I the Powhatans
20. Which answer is true about Native American religions?
A Very few Native American peoples were very religious.
B Many Native American peoples adopted their religions from Asian civilizations.
C Religious wars were common among Native American nations.
D Many tribes believed that animals and the earth had spirits.
21. Which animal was an important part of the economy of the Plains Native Americans?
A Fish
B Bison
C Whale
D Deer
22. Which natural resource was an important part of the economy of the Native Americans of the
Southwest because water and trees were scarce?
A Stone.
B Cactus.
C Brick.
D Sand.
23. What is a large, communal dwelling house made of wood that housed many Native American
families?
A Wigwam
B Teepee
C Longhouse
D Cabin
24. This structure, an important part of the culture of the Pacific Northwest Native Americans,
includes figures representing mythic figures or family members that are carved into it:
A Longhouse
B Mesa
C Irrigation
D Totem Pole
25. What was the name given to the leader of a group of nomads?
A Father
B Brother
C Priest
D Shaman