Notable Americans — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Abraham Lincoln were the sixteenth president of the United States.
Corrected: Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States.
One person uses was, not were, in standard past-tense grammar.
2. Fix the sentence:
Sacagawea help Lewis and Clark explore the western lands.
Corrected: Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark explore the western lands.
Past actions take past-tense verbs; help becomes helped to show completed action.
3. Fix the sentence:
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, she was a nurse.
Corrected: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross; she was a nurse.
A semicolon or period must separate independent clauses to avoid a comma splice.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Abraham Lincoln led the Union during the Civil War and ended slavery.
Lincoln preserved the Union and freed enslaved people during his presidency.
2. Sacagawea guided Lewis and Clark across rivers and mountains as their interpreter.
Sacagawea translated and navigated, making the expedition successful.
3. Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross to help wounded soldiers.
The American Red Cross still provides disaster relief and blood donations today.
4. Booker T. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute to educate African Americans.
Tuskegee Institute trained teachers and tradespeople after the Civil War.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why is Abraham Lincoln considered one of America's greatest presidents?
Sample answer: Lincoln preserved the Union during the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people in Confederate states.
Lincoln's leadership saved the country and advanced human freedom for millions.
2. How did Sacagawea help the Lewis and Clark Expedition succeed?
Sample answer: Sacagawea translated for Native tribes, identified edible plants, and guided the explorers through unfamiliar western lands safely.
Without her guidance and translation, the expedition could have failed completely.