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, when talking about the horse and rider not leaving "tracks", it makes sense that it refers to marks left by an animal (as they were moving across the land).
2. The text clearly states "the Rangers cut off Vidal's head" after catching him.
3. The story mentions real - life issues like cattle thieves in the 1800s and Texas Rangers (historical elements), so it's at least partly true based on known historical facts.
4. The author describes a Texas ghost story (El Muerto) that is based on a real - life event (the Texas Rangers dealing with Vidal).

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