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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happened when Mike's father died?
(a) He was allowed to train as a policeman.
(b) His mother kicked him out of the house.
(c) His mother was cheated out of her house.
(d) He was given an apprenticeship as a footman.

2. What did Mayhew say all blind musicians had in common?
(a) They were all the best musicians.
(b) They were all religious.
(c) They were all blind at birth.
(d) They were all poor musicians.

3. Who collected coal, small scraps of wood, lost coins and other junk from the deep, sucking, stinking mud?
(a) Mudworms.
(b) No one; it was not worth collecting.
(c) Mudlarks.
(d) Mudmen.

4. What type of freedom did costers enjoy that other workers did not?
(a) Not having to pay taxes.
(b) Being able to work when they wanted to work.
(c) Being their own boss and not being stuck indoors.
(d) Being able to put money away for retirement.

5. What does Mayhew say the Jewish traders seldom were?
(a) Penurious.
(b) Drinkers or gamblers.
(c) Kind.
(d) Generous.

6. What type of gambling was most popular with costers?
(a) Playing cards or pitching pennies.
(b) Betting on dog fights.
(c) Betting on the horse races.
(d) Playing chess for money.

7. What had one crossing sweep worked at until he was injured at age 36?
(a) A ostler.
(b) A carpenter.
(c) A painter.
(d) A bricklayer.

8. What did the mutual aid societies do?
(a) Protect their turf.
(b) Testify for them if they are being cheated.
(c) Protect their equipment.
(d) Collect a small amount from each member to take care of them or their families if need be.

9. How did the renters of low lodging houses eat?
(a) They ate before they came in for the night.
(b) Food was included in the rent.
(c) They brought their own food.
(d) They pooled food with other renters.

10. What did the crossing sweep who Mayhew interviewed work at before finding an open intersection?
(a) Selling newspapers.
(b) Selling matches.
(c) Shining lanterns.
(d) Nothing.

11. How often did chimney sweeps bathe in times earlier than that of Mayhew?
(a) Twice a week.
(b) Seldom.
(c) Never.
(d) Everyday.

12. What were the low end lodging houses like?
(a) In terrible condition with no heat and leaky roofs.
(b) They were usually clean with decent food.
(c) They were just adequate, a little heat and a roof.
(d) They were typical dwellings for lower middle class.

13. On what day of the week were regular customers allowed to stay free in some lodging houses?
(a) Saturday.
(b) Wednesday.
(c) Friday.
(d) Sunday.

14. What did a lodging manager do when a child brought in a stolen item for rent?
(a) Let the child stay for the night in exchange for the item.
(b) Gave the child a small fraction of its value and pawned it.
(c) Gave the child half of what it was worth.
(d) Called the constable.

15. What would very occasionally happen to a dependable crossing sweep?
(a) He would be given such good tips he could retire.
(b) He would be beat up by less scrupulous workers.
(c) He would be given a job as footman or porter in a household.
(d) He would be hired by the city council to supervise other crossing sweeps.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happened if a coster child didn't have the money to pay for lodging?

2. How did wholesale suppliers cheat costers?

3. What did some of the boys do to earn tips while serving as crossing sweeps?

4. Into what kind of fund did residents of better lodging houses pay?

5. What was a huckster who sold hardware at a fair called?

(see the answer keys)

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