"Dutch girl" Review Quiz

Which text feature might be most helpful in understanding how dangerous it was for Laura Dekker to have sailed around the world solo at 16? (R.2.1)

• A list of the ages of individuals who perished attempting to circumnavigate the globe in the last 50 years.

• A timeline of Laura Dekker’s legal battle with Dutch authorities.

• A graph showing the country of origin of people who have circumnavigated the globe.

• A map illustrating the geographic locations of deaths that occurred while attempting to circumnavigate the globe.

How does the author use the last paragraph of the passage to convey his purpose of the text? (R.2.1)

 "’Laura has tremendous willpower and ambition,’" said lawyer Peter de Lange, who advised Laura and her father during the runup to the trip, in an interview with the Volkskrant newspaper. "’Her wish to do this was something that came from her heart and soul and no one was going to stop her.’"

• He emphasizes the danger of her journey.

• He provides reasoning for a lawyer having to defend her.

• He highlights Dekker’s intrinsic desire to complete the goal of circumnavigation.

• He demonstrates how the Dutch government was probably correct to try and stop her.

Which two details from the text support the central idea of the text? (R.2.2)

•  "’It's a dream, and I wanted to do it.’"

• “She told how her boat was drenched by a whale in South Africa and a flying fish slapped into her head in the Caribbean.”

• “Dekker set sail two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old US sailor, was rescued in the middle of the Indian Ocean during a similar attempt.”

• “Friends have described her as intelligent, independent and disciplined.”

• “She celebrated her 16th birthday during the trip, eating doughnuts for breakfast after spending time at port with her father and friends in Darwin, Australia.”

Why do both authors include details about the sailboats in their explorations? (R.2.3)

• Because building the sailboat is the most important part of circumnavigation.

• Because the sailboat is the most important factor when it comes to escaping pirates.

• Because a captain’s success depends entirely on the fitness of the sailboat and has very little to do with the expertise of the captain.

• Because a sailor has an important relationship with his or her sailboat, especially in difficult circumstances.

In what ways are the two texts presented differently? (R.3.3)

• The first text is written by a journalist, while the second account is written by a close family member and lawyer.

• The first text is a firsthand account written by the captain, while the second is a newspaper article written about the sailor’s accomplishments.

• The first text tells about the dangers faced during circumnavigation, while the second does not point out any difficulties or dangers during the voyage.

• The first text explains how different circumnavigation was during that time period, while the second focuses on the technological advances that make it more possible in modern times.

Select two quotes from the text that have contrasting approaches by the authors of Passage 1 and Passage 2. (R.3.3)

• “In this way, among dangers, I spent the rest of the night.”

• “This puzzled me, for there should have been no broken water where I supposed myself to be.”

• 1. “...she said that at sea she felt at rest. ‘I especially enjoy the long passages over the Indian and Atlantic,’ she said.” 

• “Dekker set sail two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old US sailor, was rescued in the middle of the Indian Ocean during a similar attempt.”

• “Courts in the Netherlands originally refused to allow Dekker to embark on the voyage when she was 14…on the grounds that she was too young to look after herself at sea.”

What does the word interventions mean in the following sentence? (V.1.3)

“In contrast with her discomfort at the interventions of the authorities, she said that at sea she felt at rest.”

• efficiency

• annoyance

• helpfulness

• interference

What can be inferred about Laura Dekker's personality based on her decision to sail around the world solo at 16? (R.1.3)

• She is highly dependent on others for making decisions.

• She has a strong sense of adventure and independence.

• She lacks confidence in her abilities.

• She prefers indoor activities over outdoor adventures.

Which of the following best describes the main conflict Laura Dekker faced before her journey? (R.3.1)

• Struggling to find a suitable boat for the journey.

• Debating the best route to take around the world.

• Fighting legal battles with authorities over her age.

• Convincing her family about the safety of her voyage.

How does the author demonstrate the significance of Laura Dekker's achievement in the context of sailing history? (R.2.2)

• By comparing her journey to those of famous male sailors.

• By listing the technological advancements in sailing equipment.

• By noting how another young female sailor failed in completing a similar voyage.