“It may be said of the animals of the Territories that immense herds of buffalo, deer, and horses roam over the prairies. Polar bears, wild goats, and sheep are found in the mountainous regions.”
The little girl who had gone to the foot now waved her hand excitedly.
“What is it, Alice?”
“He said ‘polar bears’; it should have been ‘grizzly bears.’”
“Correct.” And Alice left the foot and moved in triumph down the side, across the end of the room, and up the other side until she was within four of the head.
“It’s lovely! It’s just like a game,” thought Ella. “You have to know things, though, and know the questions as well as the answers. That’s funny. I don’t see why the teacher doesn’t ask them.”
Suddenly the teacher did ask questions, a whole hailstorm of them, and they went all over North America. Ella was quite aghast when she saw how promptly they were answered and how few mistakes there were. These were some of the questions:
“What are the principal capes in North America? What is the capital of Missouri? What bounds New Hampshire on the north? What are the principal manufactures of Connecticut? For what is Delaware noted? Name the western branches of the Mississippi. What States produce the most tobacco? What are the principal exports of British America? Where is Mazatlan?”
She was still more aghast when the teacher said:
“You did very well with the advance lesson, but not so well with the general questions. Remember that you are responsible for whatever you have once learned.”