Mysterious Neighbors
HELPPPP MEEE
“How can something that old be right here in Illinois?” Rob asked himself. He had been using the Internet to research lost civilizations for a history project. Rob found a place called Cahokia.
He was amazed to find that Cahokia was about two hours from his home! Between 20,000 to 40,000 people once lived there and built 120 mounds, yet researchers disagree about the purpose of the mounds. The Cahokia people disappeared and left behind no written records.
Rob read that long ago Cahokia covered 4,000 acres and was the largest city north of Mexico. Living there were farmers, hunters, craftsmen, traders, and priests. Most researchers think that the city was settled before the year 1000. What really surprised Rob was that everyone abandoned the city about 300 years later, about 100 years before Columbus or any other Europeans arrived in North America.
“Why would people build a big city and then abandon it?” Rob wondered. He was excited to tell his parents about what he had learned. They had heard about Cahokia but hadn’t been there. His mom suggested that they visit it the following weekend.
On Saturday morning, they stopped at the Visitor Center. A model of the ancient city showed the mounds and hundreds of homes. Next, Rob wanted to explore the huge Monks Mound, which was ten stories high. Rob wondered how many trips it took to haul enough dirt to make a mound that big.
Several flights of steps are built into the dirt mound.
The family climbed 156 steps to the top of the mound. The view was astounding. It was more amazing than Rob had expected.
“I can see parts of a wooden wall around the city,” Rob said. “Maybe the people who lived here were attacked and killed by their enemies.”
“Maybe,” his mom agreed. “The ruler of Cahokia probably lived on this mound.”
“But no one knows for sure that this ruler existed,” Rob said. “Why didn’t the Cahokia people leave behind any records?”
His dad explained. “Long ago, many groups didn’t have a written language, so they couldn’t record their history. Instead, parents told stories to their children, and the children told the same stories to their own kids. That’s how they tried to preserve their history, yet those stories are lost now.”
“That’s too bad,” Rob said, “because I’d really like to know more about the people who lived here. After all, they were our neighbors!”
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
What is the message in this passage?
A.
History is very exciting.
B.
Some things cannot be explained.
C.
You can find many facts on the Web.
D.
Some stories from history are lost to us.
Part B
Which detail from the passage helps to show this message?
A.
Rob and his family visit Cahokia.
B.
Rob wishes he knew more about Cahokia.
C.
Rob looks up lost civilizations on the Internet.
D.
Rob sees what an ancient city might have looked like.