Question

headless horseman
people have been telling stories about a headless horseman galloping across texas for the past 150 years. the first cowboys who saw the rider thought it was someone playing tricks on them. but the horse and rider never left behind any tracks. this headless horseman became known as a ghost. he was called el muerto, or \the dead one.\ people reported that el muerto was dressed like a mexican vaquero, or cowboy. his head was tied to the side of his horse. his body was full of bullet holes and arrows. there is some truth to this ghost story. cattle thieves were a terrible problem in the 1800s. some texas rangers tracked down a well - known mexican cattle and horse thief named vidal. they wanted to make an example out of him to stop other thieves. so, the rangers cut off vidals head. they tied his body and his head onto his horse. his head was still wearing a sombrero. the crazed horse ran through the wilderness scaring travelers until it was finally caught. vidals body was taken down and then buried. do you think sightings of the ghostly el muerto ended? they continue to this day.

1. what does the word tracks mean as it is used in the text?

a) a rough path
b) a line of rails for a train
c) a piece of music
d) marks left by an animal

1. what happened after texas rangers caught a cattle thief named vidal?

a) they killed him and cut off his head.
b) they let him go after giving him a stern warning.
c) they took his horse away and left him in the wilderness.
d) they turned him over to the sheriff in the next town.

1. based on information in the text, the reader can conclude that the story of el muerto ---

a) was made up by the texas rangers
b) is at least partly true based on known historical facts
c) was made up by cowboys
d) protected cattle from being stolen for a long time

1. the author organizes the text by ---

a) comparing and contrasting old and new sightings of el muerto
b) explaining how the problem of cattle theft was solved once and for all
c) describing a texas ghost story based on a real happening
d) telling how texas rangers solved a crime in a certain sequence of events

Explanation:

1. In the context of the story about a horseman, "tracks" would refer to marks left by an animal (the horse). The other options (a rough path, train rails, music) don't fit the context of a horse - rider.
2. The text states "the Rangers cut off Vidal's head", which means they killed him (as cutting off the head would cause death) and cut off his head.
3. The story mentions that there is some truth as cattle thieves were a problem and Vidal was a real thief. So it's at least partly true based on known historical facts.
4. The text describes a Texas ghost story (El Muerto) that is based on a real - life event (Vidal being caught and the subsequent events).

Answer:

1. D. marks left by an animal
2. A. They killed him and cut off his head.
3. B. is at least partly true based on known historical facts
4. C. describing a Texas ghost story based on a real happening