The Pony Express
Reading Comprehension Quiz
Which happened first?
The train line to California was finished.
The Pony Express was started.
Settlers rushed to California to find gold.
The first telegraph line to California was finished.
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Which best explains why Pony Express riders had to weigh less than 125 pounds?
Horses could move quicker with lighter men.
Heavier men were more expensive.
Horses were scared of heavier men.
Heavier men scared customers.
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How fast could the Pony Express take a letter from California to Missouri?
twenty days
ten days
one month
24 hours
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How do you know this? Cite the text in your answer.
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Why were the Pony Express stations about ten miles apart?
This was about as far as a man could walk in a single day.
This was as far as a man could ride on a horse in a day.
This was as far as a horse could run without getting tired.
This was so the riders wouldn't get so lonely at night.
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Which was probably not a requirement to be a rider for the Pony Express?
You had to be brave in the face of danger.
You had to be light.
You had to be able to read and write.
You had to be an expert horse rider.
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Which best describes that main idea of the fifth paragraph?
It is about how many Pony Express stations there were.
It is about how the Pony Express riders slept in the stations.
It is about how the Pony Express carried mail so quickly.
It is about how far the Pony Express riders would go in a day.
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Which of these ended the Pony Express?
Wars with Native Americans
The Civil War
The telegraph
The train line
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How do you know this? Use the text in your response.
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About how far did Pony Express riders travel on a usual day?
200 miles
10 miles
100 miles
2000 miles
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How many mail pouches did the Pony Express lose?
Too many to keep track
One
Two
The Pony Express never lost a mail pouch.
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Which title best describes the author's purpose in writing this?
Back in Touch: Why We Should Use Horses to Deliver the Mail
The Pony Express: Stories of Their Bravery in Battle
Out of Touch: Why Phones are Faster Than Horses
The Pony Express: About the 1860's Fastest Mail Service
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How was the Pony Express able to move letters across the country so quickly? Refer to the text in your answer.
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How did the California Gold Rush help to create a need for the Pony Express? Use the text to support your response.
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Why was the Pony Express no longer needed? Refer to the text in your answer.
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The Pony Express
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