Reading Choice #2

Turnpikes are toll roads. People must pay to travel on them. The first turnpikes in the United States were built in the 1700s. These roads got their name from poles called pikes. The pikes were placed across the road. They served as gates. They turned or swung open only when a toll was paid. Travelers could then _____1_____. They could use the road until they got to the next pike. Then another toll had to be paid.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #1

• watch

• pass

• hide

• rest

• eat

Early turnpikes were privately owned. At first, each owner set the toll. Different roads had different _____2_____. Some cost more than others to use. In the 1800s, the government stepped in. Soon every turnpike in a state had the same set of fees.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #2

• surfaces

• dangers

• guards

• rates

• lines

Tolls were determined by wagon size. Large, heavy wagons paid a higher toll than small, light wagons. A simple farm cart may have cost 6 cents. A four-wheeled coach would have cost 8 cents. A wagon carrying a full load paid more than the one that was empty. _____3_____ made a difference.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #3

• Noise

• Age

• Weight

• Distance

• Weather

Wheel type was also considered. Narrow wheels made ruts in roads. Wide wheels helped flatten them. So wide wheels were _____4_____. Wagons with narrow wheels were charged a higher toll. Some people tried to get around that rule. They carried wide tires that fit over narrow wheels. When the wagon approached a tollgate, they put the tires on. Later, they took the tires off. Such people were often _____5_____. They had to pay a fine. Livestock affected toll amounts too. Wagons pulled by mules or horses were charged the same tolls. Similar wagons pulled by oxen cost half as much. Yet these _____6_____ were nearly as large.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #4

• preferred

• measured

• raised

• ruined

• oiled

Wheel type was also considered. Narrow wheels made ruts in roads. Wide wheels helped flatten them. So wide wheels were _____4_____. Wagons with narrow wheels were charged a higher toll. Some people tried to get around that rule. They carried wide tires that fit over narrow wheels. When the wagon approached a tollgate, they put the tires on. Later, they took the tires off. Such people were often _____5_____. They had to pay a fine. Livestock affected toll amounts too. Wagons pulled by mules or horses were charged the same tolls. Similar wagons pulled by oxen cost half as much. Yet these _____6_____ were nearly as large.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #5

• included

• welcomed

• saved

• trained

• caught

Wheel type was also considered. Narrow wheels made ruts in roads. Wide wheels helped flatten them. So wide wheels were _____4_____. Wagons with narrow wheels were charged a higher toll. Some people tried to get around that rule. They carried wide tires that fit over narrow wheels. When the wagon approached a tollgate, they put the tires on. Later, they took the tires off. Such people were often _____5_____. They had to pay a fine. Livestock affected toll amounts too. Wagons pulled by mules or horses were charged the same tolls. Similar wagons pulled by oxen cost half as much. Yet these _____6_____ were nearly as large.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #6

• signs

• animals

• chains

• mountains

• households

Many people did not think the tolls were fair. They did not use the turnpikes. They used back roads called shunpikes instead. Shunpikes were little more than rough trails. But they were _____7_____, Travelers could use them at no charge.

Select the correct vocabulary word for #7

• old

• straight

• free

• long

• known