KSA Reading Grade 5 Practice Questions - Kentucky Summative Assessment Reading - Grade 5 Exam

Read the passage below before answering the question. 'In the early 1800s, before steamboats dominated the rivers, Kentucky farmers relied on flatboats to transport goods to market. These sturdy, wooden, flat-bottomed craft floated down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers toward New Orleans. Crew members guided the heavy boats using long oars called steering sweeps. The journey took over a month and was filled with hazards like hidden sandbars, swift currents, and unpredictable weather. Upon reaching New Orleans, farmers sold their corn, tobacco, and cured meats. Because rowing a heavy flatboat upstream against the current was impossible, farmers dismantled the wooden boats and sold the lumber before walking or riding horses back home along the Natchez Trace.' What type of boat did Kentucky farmers use in the early 1800s to carry goods downstream?