Image: wikimedia
About This Quiz
Dust storms swirled around the prairie states for years, devastating the area. The disaster put a stop to many aspects of life and even made going to work or school a chore. It became even more important to not only protect yourself but also the people around you and your belongings. It was a dark time in American history that gave the decade the name, "The Dirty Thirties."
Do you know what name the deadly dust storms were given? Do you know the name of some of the key days throughout the history of the Dust Bowl? What about the name of a water source that saved the land? Luckily, the land was brought back to life after many efforts to stop the Dust Bowl.
Do you know the measures people went to in order to protect themselves and their possessions? What about how farmers made their living at this time? Can you name the famous book that deals with the subject of the Dust Bowl? The disaster left a lasting impact on the people of the United States. Finances and health were both affected.
Through all the damage that the Dust Bowl brought to the United States, it was a learning experience for the country. If you think you're an expert on one of the United States' worst disasters, take the quiz to see your score!
What illness did people in the area get?
diabetes
common cold
dust pneumonia
People in the area suffered from dust pneumonia that was especially severe for children and the elderly. Many people died as a result of this condition.
the flu
The price of what crop dropped, making it subject to even more extensive harvesting?
oats
sugarcane
tobacco
wheat
The price of wheat dropped which made farmers work harder to make their living. The more overharvested the area became, the worse the dust became.
Which animal overran the Dust Bowl territory?
bears
deer
eagles
rabbits
Rabbits infested the area of the Dust Bowl. The rabbits were another animal that ate all of the plants that they could find, making them a big problem.
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What was a "Black Blizzard"?
mass money troubles
thousands of deaths
the name for the mass migration
a dust storm
A Black Blizzard was the name for the intense dust storms that raged through the country. The dust could be carried hundreds of miles across the country and affect other major cities.
What was "Black Sunday"?
the day of the worst dust storm at the time
Black Sunday is the name of the day that the worst of all of the dust storms took place. The storm turned the sky black and coated the world below it in dust.
the day everyone lost hope
the day the stock market went under
the day everyone in the Dust Bowl died
Is it true or false that dust got inside of homes?
true
This is true. The dust made its way into anything it could during the Dust Bowl. People had to find a way to keep it out and keep themselves healthy.
false
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The Dust Bowl took place during which time period?
Roaring Twenties
political reform
Great Depression
The Dust Bowl took place during the Great Depression. The disaster was a large contributor to the hardships of the time period.
Industrial Revolution
What did the dust storms generate?
gas
magic
ideas
static electricity
The dust storms generated static electricity that was extremely strong. Metal with blue flames of static electricity was reported during these storms.
What did the dust storms move?
buildings
animals
landmarks
topsoil
The dust storms moved the topsoil that grew plants in the area. This is what led to the loss of crops and left the area lifeless.
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What did kids wear when going to school during the Dust Bowl?
masks
Kids going to school wore masks during the time of the Dust Bowl. It was a precaution for the kids as dust pneumonia was a huge risk at the time.
bandanas
balaclavas
turtlenecks
Is it true or false that the dust traveled as far as New York City?
true
This is true. The dust was able to travel very long distances. The winds were extremely strong, making it easier for the storms to impact the entire country.
false
What state did many Okies go to?
New York
New Jersey
California
Okies mostly migrated to California to look for work. Most Okies were subject to the lower-paying jobs, but their jobs back home just weren't a viable option.
Delaware
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What industry did the Dust Storm affect most?
aerospace
transport
farming
Farming was highly affected by the Dust Bowl which put many farmers and their families out of a job and their incomes. They had to move elsewhere to find jobs and keep themselves healthy.
investment
What was the DRS?
Digital Register Service
Divided Relief Situation
Drag Reduction System
Drought Relief Service
DRS stands for Drought Relief Service. This was created specifically to help anyone who was affected by the severe droughts the Dust Bowl brought.
What did farmers do to overcome the Dust Bowl?
They planted more
They harvested more
They migrated
Farmers migrated during the Dust Bowl since they couldn't combat the disaster. They often did not have enough money to bring in rich soil, so their best option was to go somewhere where there was more hope.
nothing
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Is it true or false that the Dust Bowl was a contributor to the Great Depression?
true
This is true. The Dust Bowl was a major contributor to this financial crisis. As many farmers in the area were experiencing financial troubles, so were others across the country.
false
What did the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act do?
sent the Army to help out
ordered everyone to move
transported water to the site of the drought
funded relief for the drought
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created this act to assist the people affected by the Dust Bowl. A large amount of money was put to helping the people affected get back on their feet and restore the area to what it once was.
Which bug infested the territory of the Dust Bowl?
spiders
caterpillars
grasshoppers
Grasshoppers invaded the area of the Dust Bowl because it was the perfect climate for them. The grasshoppers also ate much of the plant life in the area.
bees
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How did people try to combat the dust from getting inside of their homes?
caulking
dustproof doors
fans
wet sheets
To keep dust out, people hung up wet sheets over their windows where the dust could easily find its way inside. It was a way to protect their houses and themselves from the dangers.
Is it true or false that many animals died because of the Dust Bowl?
true
This is true. Many animals died as a result of inhaling so much dust. The dust was as deadly to animals as it was to humans.
false
In what year did the area suffer a drought?
2000
1825
1964
1931
The area of the Dust Bowl suffered a drought in 1931. That drought led to a series of continuous droughts that led to the disaster of the Dust Bowl.
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Since selling crops could not be a source of income at the time, what did the farmers do?
sold on the black market
invested their money
started their own businesses
sold livestock to the government
Since selling their crops was no longer worthwhile, farmers turned to selling their livestock to the government. The meat from the animals fed the less fortunate.
How many dust storms were there in 1933?
11
139
53
48
There were 48 dust storms in 1933. These storms showed the severity of the disaster as the amount had increased from previous years.
What year was the hottest summer recorded?
1874
2009
1774
1936
The hottest summer on record was in 1936, during the Dust Bowl. This did not help the extreme drought and only added to the struggles in the area.
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Is it true or false that dust storms happened in the winter?
true
This is true. No matter the season, there were dust storms that covered the land. The central areas of the Dust Bowl typically do not get snow.
false
Which famous book deals with the subject of the Dust Bowl?
"To Kill A Mockingbird"
"The Odyssey"
"Grapes of Wrath"
"Grapes of Wrath" is about the Dust Bowl and the tragedies it brought upon the people in it. The book was written by John Steinbeck.
"Macbeth"
What is the Ogallala Aquifer?
an ancient underground water source
The Ogallala Aquifer is an important ancient water source that is located under the exact area of the Dust Bowl. It played an important part in bringing life back after the disaster.
an ocean
a waterfall
a city
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Which of the following was not a state in the area of the Dust Bowl?
Texas
Hawaii
Hawaii was not in the area of the Dust Bowl. Nebraska, New Mexico and Oklahoma were the other states that were in its proximity.
Colorado
Kansas
What were "Okies"?
clouds of dust
unaffected areas
migrants from the Dust Bowl
"Okies" were mostly people from Oklahoma who migrated when times got tough. People from other states were often called this as well.
tumbleweeds
Who was president at the time of the Dust Bowl?
George Bush
Barack Obama
Abraham Lincoln
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was president during this time. He was an important figure in the regulation of the Dust Bowl and did what he could to relieve people from the disaster's burden.
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What events led up to the Dust Bowl?
the Homestead Acts
The Homestead Acts were part of the reason for the Dust Bowl happening. With more people moving into the area and learning how to farm, it became more and more populated and overworked.
the impact of World War II
the space race
the beginning of World War II
Which song by Woody Guthrie is about the Dust Bowl?
"I Ain't Got No Home"
"Ship in the Sky"
"So Long, It's Been Good To Know Ya"
"So Long, It's Been Good To Know Ya" is a song about the Dust Bowl. It was recorded by Woody Guthrie. The subject of many of his songs revolved around the natural disaster.
"Roll On Columbia"
What did the government do to try to stop the Dust Bowl?
built walls
excavation
planted trees
created grasslands
The government created grasslands to try to revive the area of the Dust Bowl. Its efforts helped a great deal and the government still regulates some of this land today.
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What plant was common at the time of the Dust Bowl?
tumbleweeds
Tumbleweeds were very common at the time of the Dust Bowl. These plants were a good source of food for hungry cattle at the time.
fern
cattails
clover
You Got:
/35
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