Westward Expansion — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The two railroad companies met at Promontory Summit in California.
Corrected: The two railroad companies met at Promontory Summit in Utah.
The corrected sentence is: "The two railroad companies met at Promontory Summit in Utah." The error was factual error — the railroads joined in Utah, not California: the original sentence "The two railroad companies met at Promontory Summit in California." needed to be fixed.
2. Fix the sentence:
The telegraph allowed people to send messages in weeks instead of months.
Corrected: The telegraph allowed people to send messages in seconds instead of weeks.
The corrected sentence is: "The telegraph allowed people to send messages in seconds instead of weeks." The error was factual error — the telegraph sent messages almost instantly: the original sentence "The telegraph allowed people to send messages in weeks instead of months." needed to be fixed.
3. Fix the sentence:
Only American-born workers built the Transcontinental Railroad.
Corrected: Chinese and Irish immigrants helped build the Transcontinental Railroad.
The corrected sentence is: "Chinese and Irish immigrants helped build the Transcontinental Railroad." The error was factual error — immigrant workers were essential to railroad construction: the original sentence "Only American-born workers built the Transcontinental Railroad." needed to be fixed.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The Union Pacific railroad built westward from Omaha, Nebraska.
The answer is "Pacific." The Union Pacific was one of two companies that built the Transcontinental Railroad, laying tracks westward from Omaha while the Central Pacific built eastward from Sacramento.
2. A golden spike was driven to mark the completion of the railroad.
The answer is "spike." On May 10, 1869, a golden spike was hammered into the final rail tie at Promontory Summit, Utah, symbolizing the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
3. Before the railroad, a trip from coast to coast took about six months.
The answer is "months." Before the railroad, travelers crossed the country by wagon or ship (often around South America), a journey that took roughly six months.
4. Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, which helped connect the East and West.
The answer is "Morse." Samuel Morse developed the telegraph and Morse code, allowing people to send electrical messages across long distances almost instantly.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. How did the Transcontinental Railroad change travel in the United States?
Sample answer: The railroad made it possible to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast in about one week instead of many months. It also made shipping goods across the country much faster and cheaper.
A good answer includes: The railroad made it possible to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast in about one week instead of many months. It also made shipping goods across the country much faster and cheaper.
2. Why was the telegraph important during westward expansion?
Sample answer: The telegraph let people send messages across long distances almost instantly. This helped businesses, the government, and families stay connected as the nation expanded west.
A good answer includes: The telegraph let people send messages across long distances almost instantly. This helped businesses, the government, and families stay connected as the nation expanded west.