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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Volume 2: Of the Street-Jews.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was a huckster who sold hardware at a fair called?
(a) A Penny Call.
(b) A Hustler.
(c) A Cheap Con.
(d) A Cheap Jack.

2. How long had the crossing week Mayhew interviewed work as a crossing sweep at the time of the interview?
(a) A few months.
(b) 30 years.
(c) More than a decade.
(d) 20 years.

3. What occasionally happened to one of the bolder boys?
(a) They would get smashed when a load of coal was dumped in the barge.
(b) They would get smothered when a load of grain was dumped in the bin.
(c) They would be arrested for grain theft and put in jail for a week.
(d) They would be arrested for coal theft and put in jail for a week.

4. What happened that people started bathing more often?
(a) A law forcing everyone to bath at least once a month.
(b) The rise of public baths.
(c) Charity organizations opening more and offering free baths.
(d) A law forcing everyone to bath at least once a week.

5. How did coster runaway children usually support themselves?
(a) Joining the military.
(b) Entering orphanages.
(c) Living with another adult.
(d) Selling items on the street.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what was street vending an alternative?

2. Who most often hosted lodging houses?

3. On what did coster children often waste their money?

4. What did one Jewish trader claim to have purchased?

5. What type of freedom did costers enjoy that other workers did not?

(see the answer key)

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