Unit 2: King of Mazy May Flashcards
In “The King of Mazy May,” why hasn’t Walt ever seen a train or an elevator?
A. These machines have not been invented yet.
B. He prefers to stay away from cities.
C. He does not want anything to do with machines.
D. He lives in an area where these things have not yet come into use.
D. He lives in an area where these things have not yet come into use.
Where does the story of “The King of Mazy May” take place?
A. in the Yukon
B. in California
C. in Europe
D. in South America
A. in the Yukon
When does “The King of Mazy May” take place?
A. during the California gold rush
B. during the gold rush in the Yukon
C. during the Civil War
D. after the Second World War
B. during the gold rush in the Yukon
Why doesn’t Walt like claim-jumpers?
A. They think about nothing but getting rich.
B. They steal what others have worked hard to get.
C. They have bad tempers.
D. They treat their dogs very badly.
B. They steal what others have worked hard to get.
Why do the claim jumpers chase Walt?
A. They are angry that he has been spying on them.
B. They want to find out what he knows.
C. They want to make sure he doesn’t get to Dawson first. D. They want their dogs and sled back.
C. They want to make sure he doesn’t get to Dawson first.
Why can you conclude that the low temperatures Walt faces are dangerous?
A. He has to stop to build a fire.
B. He has to run beside the sled to keep warm.
C. He has to stop to pick up a warmer coat.
D. His dogs begin to freeze to death.
B. He has to run beside the sled to keep warm.
Why do the claim jumpers keep shooting at Walt?
A. He is so brave and smart they can’t stop him any other way.
B. They are trying to defend themselves against Walt’s whip attacks.
C. They think he is carrying gold.
D. Walt challenged them to a win-or-die race.
A. He is so brave and smart they can’t stop him any other way.
Why can you conclude that Walt is determined to get to Dawson before the stampeders?
A. He tells a friend about his determination.
B. He says as much to the head stampeder.
C. He faces mortal danger but keeps going.
D. He is desperate to keep the gold himself.
C. He faces mortal danger but keeps going
Which word best describes Walt’s character in “The King of Mazy May”?
A. angry
B. timid
C. stubborn
D. self-reliant
D. self-reliant
Which word does not describe Walt?
A. brave
B. honest
C. hot-tempered
D. quick-witted
C. hot-tempered
How does the creek in the setting of “The King of Mazy May” contribute to the story?
A. Gold is found there and Walt follows the creek on his journey.
B. The stampeders finally drown in the creek.
C. Walt paddles down the creek to get to Dawson.
D. The creek floods, putting the prospectors in danger.
A. Gold is found there and Walt follows the creek on his journey.
In outrunning the claim jumpers and their bullets in “The King of Mazy May,” Walt Masters overcomes many obstacles and faces many dangers. What makes him per- sist? In an essay, describe the challenges Walt faces and the character traits that enable him to go on.
Walt has to overcome cold, exhaustion, and the fear of being pursued by ruth- less, violent men. Students may note that Walt’s desire to help his neighbor and to fight injustice probably keep him going. He is smart enough to outwit the claim jumpers, strong enough to endure the trip, and fearless in danger.
“The King of Mazy May” is about a conflict between a boy and a group of men. It is also a story of conflict between good and bad. In an essay, describe Walt’s good qualities and the claim-jumpers’ bad qualities.
The good qualities of Walt’s “good heart,” the strength and bravery he inher- ited from his father, his refusal to tolerate injustice, and several examples of his courage. Essays should include the bad qualities of the claim-jumpers’ determination to steal what others have worked hard to earn, and their willingness to shoot Walt to keep him from ruining their plans.
In an essay, analyze Walt’s character in “The King of Mazy May.” Using details from the text to support your analysis, state which of his qualities you think are part of his nature and which might result from how and where he grew up.
Walt was born with a sense of justice and bravery; that his ability to react quickly in a crisis and to keep functioning through a long, difficult night are qualities that may be inborn, but are also brought out in a harsh and demanding environment. Essays might include that Walt developed qualities of independence and being able to take care of himself because of the demands of his environment.
“The King of Mazy May” is set in a rugged wilderness with few comforts of civilization. Write an essay in which you explain the effect of this setting on the story. Begin your essay by describing the setting, using details from the text. Continue by explaining how the setting, including climate and terrain, has a significant effect on the events of the story.
Te extreme nature of the Klondike climate: the bitter cold and the constant pres- ence of snow and ice. Essays should include that there are no people around, no law enforcement, and no mod- ern communication. Prospectors have a long trek to Dawson to register a claim; cold and ice make the claim jumpers’ pursuit of Walt especially exciting; lack of surrounding community makes the threat posed by the claim jumpers much more menacing.
