LEVEL Z

Quick Check Historic Peacemakers

Name Date
Instructions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer.

1. Why did the author most 2. How did Wangar~ı Muta

likely include the section Maathai solve two of Kenya’s
“Introduction”? problems at once?
A to demonstrate who
A She removed trees from
peacemakers are and Kenya’s forests, which
how they are allowed the streams to dry
recognized up.
B to catalog the various
B She led protests to help
kinds of awards and prizes people both selling lands
given to peacemakers and building on public
lands.
C to criticize the many reasons
peacemakers are often
seen as controversial
C She came up with a plan to
create new jobs, and these
jobs helped the
D to acknowledge the steps
environment.
peacemakers take to avoid
being the victims of
violence
D She helped her husband
win a seat in Parliament
and promised to work with
him
to help Kenya pass laws.

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 LEVEL Z
Quick Check (continued) Historic Peacemakers

Name Date

3. According to the book, what 5. When was Maathai born?

did Maathai’s work through
the Green Belt Movement do? A April 1940
A It helped families clear B June 2000
land and helped people get
jobs. C January 2010
B It helped protest
D February 1970
and pressure 6. Was Maathai a good student?
countries to end
discrimination. A Yes, she was
B No, she wasn’t.
C It helped people harvest
their crops and built
homes and fencing.

D It helped plant trees

and demanded change
from the government.
4. According to the book,
what is one way Nelson
Mandela changed South
Africa’s government?

A He made friends with

many white politicians.

B He took steps that

successfully ended apartheid.

C He worked with the

president to open fair
elections.

D He took a lawsuit to the

South African Supreme
Court.
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 LEVEL Z
Quick Check (continued) Historic Peacemakers

Name Date

7. Maathai was deeply interested 9. The removal of too many

in… trees was causing…
A peace A pollution

B environmental health B extinction of humans

C medicine C sea water level to go

D voting
8. Make a drawing of a desertic
area and another of a forested
area.
up
D the drying up of
streams and desert
spread
10. According to Maathai’s plan, she
would solve 2 problems at once…?

A Many people could eat

healthily and could avoid
illnesses

B Many people could learn

how to read and would
have water to drink.

C Many people could find a

job and they would help
the environment.

D Many people could travel

and would have a car, too.

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 LEVEL Z
Quick Check (continued) Historic Peacemakers

Name Date

11. The political regulation of

Apartheit means…
C More than 15 years
A togetherness D More than 5 years
15. The Nobel Peace Prize was
B apartness awarded in 1993…
C including A To “Nelson Mandela” and
“De Klerk” President of
D belonging South Africa by that time.

12. Could black people vote B Only to Nelson Mandela

under the apartheid
system?
C Only to De Klerk
A Yes, they could.
D To Maathai
B No, they couldn’t.

13. Native black people in South

Africa made…

A 50% of the population

B 20% of the population
C 100% of the population
D 80% of the population

14. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned

for…

A More than 20 years

B More than 25 years

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 LEVEL Z
Quick Check Answer Sheet Historic Peacemakers
Main Comprehension Skill: Author’s
Purpose

1. A Author’s Purpose

2. C Elements of a Biography

3. D Main Idea and Details

4. C Elements of a Biography

5. C Main Idea and Details

6. B Cause and Effect

7. D Compare and Contrast

8. A Cause and Effect

9. C Sequence Events

10. C Main Idea and Details

11.Answers will vary. Example: The peacemakers in this book are
brave, determined, motivated, and caring. They all saw a problem
in their country and worked hard to solve the problem and make a
difference. They all faced resistance from others, including
threats, violence, arrest, and prison. Despite opposition, the
peacemakers stayed steadfast in their goals and used nonviolent
protests to stand up for what they believed. In the end, they all
helped make their countries better places and were recognized as
historic peacemakers.
12. Answers will vary. Example: Maathai fought against deforestation,
giving Kenya a healthier environment. Nelson Mandela and Martin
Luther King Jr. fought against discrimination, working to gain
Black people equality in their countries. Óscar Romero fought
against human rights violations, speaking out about the people
who were missing, harmed, and killed during El Salvador’s military
dictatorships. Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams fought for
peace, reducing the violence in Northern Ireland by more than half.

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