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s of the turnpike era (1790-
1830). Americans continued as in colonial times to depend
wherever possible on water routes for travel and transportation.
The larger rivers, especially the Mississippi and the
Ohio, became increasingly useful as steamboats grew in
number and improved in design.
River boats carried to New Orleans the corn and other
crops of northwestern farmers, the cotton and tobacco of
southwestern planters. From New Orleans, ships took the
cargoes on to eastern seaports. Neither the farmers of the west
nor the merchants of the east were completely satisfied with
this pattern of trade. Farmers could get better prices for their
crops if the alternative existed of sending them directly eastward
to market and merchants could sell larger quantities of
their manufactured goods if these could be transported more
directly and more economically to the west.
New waterways were needed. Sectional jealousies and
constitutional scruples stood in the way of action by the federal
government and necessary expenditures were too great for
private enterprise. If extensive canals were to be dug, the job
would be up to the various states.
New York was the first to act. It had the natural advantage
of a comparatively level route between the Hudson River
and Lake Erie, through the only break in the entire
Appalachian Mountain chain. Yet the engineering tasks were
imposing. The distance was more than 350 miles and there
were ridges to cross and a wilderness of woods and swamps to
penetrate. The Erie Canal begun in 1817 and completed in
1825, was by far the greatest construction job that Americans
had ever undertaken. It quickly proved a financial success as
well. The prosperity of the Erie encouraged the state to
enlarge its canal system by building several branches.
The range of the New York canal system was still further
extended when the states of Ohio and Indiana, inspired by the
success of the Erie Canal, provided water connections between
Lake Erie and the Ohio River.
9. What does the passage suggest was the principal route for transporting crops to the east prior in 1825?
(A) River to road
(B) Canal to river
(C) River to ocean
(D) Road to canal.
10.It can be inferred from the passage that shipping cargo east by way of New Orleans was
(A) Advantageous for manufactures
(B) Inexpensive for merchants
(C) Not economical for farmers
(D) Considered economical by the government
11.The word "alternative" in line 13 is closest in meaning to
(A) option
(B) transition
(C) intention
(D) authorization
12.The word "them" in line 9 refers to
(A) crops
(B) farmers
(C) prices
(D) merchants
13.Which of the following products would a northwestern farmer in the early nineteenth century be most likely to purchase from the east?
(A) Grain
(B) Vegetables
(C) Textiles
(D) Fruit.
14.According to the passage, where was the Erie Canal located?
(A) Between Ohio and Indiana.
(B) Along the Appalachian Mountains
(C) Between Lake Erie and the Ohio River
(D) Across New York State.
15.The word "imposing" in line 26 could best be replaced by
(A) impractical
(B) successful
(C) demanding
(D) misleading
16.The word "penetrate" in line 28 is closest in meaning to
(A) cut down
(B) go through
(C) fill up
(D) take over
17.The word