John Henry: Man vs. Machine

John Henry: Man vs. Machine

Assessment

Interactive Video

History, Science, Physical Ed

7th - 12th Grade

Hard

Created by

Aiden Montgomery

FREE Resource

The video explores the legend of John Henry, a real man who worked on the C&O Railroad tunnels. It discusses historical evidence placing him at either the Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia or the Lewis Tunnel in Virginia. The video stages a modern recreation of the legendary contest between John Henry and a steam drill, using a jackhammer and strongmen to simulate the event. Despite technical difficulties, the contest concludes with the man outperforming the machine, reflecting the legend's enduring appeal.

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10 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What conclusion does the narrator reach about John Henry's existence?

He was a myth created by railroad workers.

He was a fictional character.

He was a character in a novel.

He was a real person who worked on the C&O Railroad tunnels.

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which tunnel does Scott Reynolds Nelson associate with John Henry?

Big Bend Tunnel

Holland Tunnel

Lewis Tunnel

Lincoln Tunnel

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the purpose of the narrator's recreation of the contest?

To test if a man could beat a steam drill

To demonstrate modern drilling techniques

To entertain the audience

To prove the steam drill was superior

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What equipment is used to represent the steam drill in the contest?

A hydraulic press

A modern jackhammer

A traditional sledgehammer

A pneumatic drill

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Who are the strongmen participating in the contest?

Jameson and Malcolm

Neil Miller and Scott Nelson

Chris Morman and Steve Owens

John Henry and Mike Kales

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How long is the contest set to last?

35 minutes

30 minutes

15 minutes

45 minutes

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What issue does the machine face during the contest?

It overheats

It gets clogged with dirt

It breaks down completely

It loses power

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