11. Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage? (A) By the nineteenth century, forts were no longer used by the military.
(B) Surgeons at forts could not prevent outbreaks of disease.
(C) Forts were important to the development of the American West.
(D) Life in nineteenth-century forts was very rough.
12. The word "daring" in line 3 is closest in meaning to (A) lost
(B) bold
(C) lively
(D) foolish
13. Which of the following would a traveler be LEAST likely to obtain at Fort Laramie? (A) Fresh water
(B) Food
(C) Formal clothing
(D) Lodging
14. The word "others" in line 8 refers to (A) posts
(B) wagon trains
(C) frontiers
(D) highways
15. The word "boosted" in line 15 is closest in meaning to (A) influenced
(B) established
(C) raised
(D) maintained
16. Which of the following is the most likely inference about the decision to promote gardening at forts? (A) It was expensive to import produce from far away.
(B) Food brought in from outside was often spoiled.
(C) Gardening was a way to occupy otherwise idle soldiers.
(D) The soil near the forts was very fertile.
17. According to the passage which of the following posed the biggest obstacle to the development of military forts? (A) Insufficient shelter
(B) Shortage of materials
(C) Attacks by wild animals
(D) Illness
18. The word "inhibited" in line 24 is closest in meaning to (A) involved
(B) exploited
(C) united
(D) hindered
19. How did the military assist in the investigation of health problems? (A) By registering annual birth and death rates
(B) By experimenting with different building materials
(C) By maintaining records of diseases and potential causes
(D) By monitoring the soldiers' diets
20. The author organizes the discussion of forts by (A) describing their locations
(B) comparing their sizes
(C) explaining their damage to the environment
(D) listing their contributions to western life