The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson

According to “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson,” why is Matthew Henson famous?

• He was the first person to reach the North Pole.

• He was the first African American captain in the Navy.

• He was the first former slave to meet the president.

• He was the first explorer to learn the Inuit language.

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As explained in “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson,” why did Henson fail to receive credit for his accomplishments?

• He was a cruel person.

• He was an African American.

• He did not accomplish what was reported.

• He did not report his accomplishments quickly.

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What does the reader learn about Peary and Henson’s historic expedition in “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson”? Choose two options.

• The expedition was poorly planned.

• The expedition required teamwork.

• The expedition faced few challenges.

• The expedition never reached its goal.

• The expedition included several Inuit companions.

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What does context suggest is the most likely meaning of indispensable as it is used in this excerpt from “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson”?

“With years of experience equal to that of Peary himself, [Henson] was indispensable,” MacMillan would recall later.

And even Peary agreed that the expedition would never be completed without his trusted friend. “Henson must go all the way,” he said as they planned the trip months earlier. “I can’t make it there without him.”

• mostly hardworking

• absolutely necessary

• occasionally cautious

• enthusiastically inspiring

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Based on the context, choose the most likely meaning of hazards as it is used in this excerpt from “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson.”

Along the way in addition to temperatures that fell to 65 degrees below zero they encountered the frequent hazards of cracking and drifting ice that formed patches of open water called leads.

• dangers

• injuries

• benefits

• miracles

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The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A Read this excerpt from “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson.”

Upon his return from the Pole Henson took a job as a clerk with the federal customs house in New York City, on the recommendation of Theodore Roosevelt. He would spend the next 30 years leading a quiet life in relative seclusion.

What is the most likely meaning of seclusion as it is used in this passage?

• fame

• privacy

• suffering

• excitement

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Part A answer: Seclusion = privacy

Part B What phrase from the passage best supports the answer to Part A?

Upon his return from the Pole Henson took a job as a clerk with the federal customs house in New York City, on the recommendation of Theodore Roosevelt. He would spend the next 30 years leading a quiet life in relative seclusion.

• job as a clerk

• next 30 years

• the Pole

• quiet life

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Read the following sentence from “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson.”

With few ways to verify the success of this kind of remote expedition reports of a successful outcome were made on the honor system.

What is meant by “the honor system”?

• People are expected to be fair and truthful.

• People are expected to be brave and strong.

• People are expected to agree with their leaders.

• People are expected to present useful information.

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The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A In “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson,” which word best describes Henson’s feelings toward Peary when they returned from their expedition?

• hurt

• angry

• humble

• confused

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Part A Answer: Hurt

Part B Which sentence from “The Legacy of Arctic Explorer Matthew Henson” best supports the answer to Part A?

• “I was in the lead that had overshot the mark by a couple of miles,” Henson was quoted in a newspaper article upon their return.

• “It nearly broke my heart … that he would rise in the morning and slip away on the homeward trail without rapping on the ice for me, as was the established custom.”

• With a difference of a few hours at most it would be reasonable to give Peary and Henson equal credit for having reached the North Pole together as a team.

• A member of a previous Greenland expedition, a man by the name of Frederick Cook, professed to have reached the North Pole one year earlier on April 21, 1908.

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