Read the excerpt from "Myths About the Founding Fathers."

Another myth concerns the ride of Paul Revere. The story goes something like this: Revere rode from Boston to Lexington while crying, “The British are coming,” rousing Minutemen along the way and sparking the Revolution.

This may have come from “Paul Revere’s Ride,” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem credits Revere alone with warning American patriots of the coming British soldiers.

This is the truth: Revere did ride from Boston to Lexington to warn Hancock and Adams, but he didn’t go alone. William Dawes took a different route to Lexington, joining Revere and Dr. Samuel Prescott. All three had been spreading the word that “the regulars are coming” along the way. There may have been as many as forty others who helped.

Which answer best summarizes the text?


The myth that Paul Revere cried, "The British are coming," may have come from “Paul Revere’s Ride” written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Paul Revere did not ride from Boston to Lexington by himself to warn British soldiers about the American solders. Therefore, Paul Revere does not deserve his status as a hero of the American Revolutionary War.

The myth about Paul Revere riding alone to warn people about the British soldiers coming is false. Revere did ride alone, but he cried, "The regulars are coming" and never said the famous words, "The British are coming."

The myth about Paul Revere riding alone to warn American solders about the British most likely came from a famous poem. In reality, Paul Revere and others traveled different paths to Lexington and shared the important message along the way.