Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

CHAPTER 1-3

Reading Check

1. While living in Minnesota, what are the practical reasons that Paulsen runs sled dogs?

2. What are the names of the 3 dogs Paulsen purchases in Canada?

3. Paulsen uses a bicycle and a tricycle-type contraption to train his dogs. What sort of rig does Paulsen next upgrade to in his training ?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Paulsen is stunned to discover that he suddenly has nine dogs on his team, even though he only brought eight dogs on a trip. What is the explanation for this?

2. Why does Paulsen’s wife ask him to sleep outside for a few nights during training for the race?

Paired Resource

“Inside the 51st Iditarod: The Meaning Behind the ‘Last Great Race on Earth’”

• Straight Arrow News provides an 8-minute overview on this legendary 1,000-mile dog sled race, which begins in Anchorage and ends in Nome. Information regards the 2023 race. (Content Warning: The interview includes discussion on the controversy surrounding sled dog care and sled dog death associated with the race; the video includes potentially disturbing imagery of sick, injured, and dead dogs in media from animal rights activist groups.