The Iroquois Creation Myth: "The World on Turtle's Back" — Quiz
Question 9 • English III
Read this excerpt from "The World on Turtle's Back." The right-handed twin accused his brother of murdering their mother and their quarrels continued until it was time to bury their mother. With the help of their grandmother, they made her a grave. From her head grew the three sister plants, corn, beans, and squash. From her heart grew tobacco, which people still use to give thanks in ceremony. She is called “our mother” and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow. The excerpt suggests that the Iroquois believed that
Answer
A
mothers should be worshipped as goddesses.
B
corn, beans, and squash are essential for life.
C
dancing and singing can make plants grow.
D
sometimes good can come from tragedy.
Explanation
The mother’s death is a tragedy, but plants that sustain and serve the people grow from her body. The story therefore suggests that something good can come from a painful event. The best answer is “sometimes good can come from tragedy”; the excerpt does not say that mothers should be worshipped as goddesses or that dancing alone makes plants grow.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.