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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. How were dustmen hired?
(a) They just worked and then asked for a wage.
(b) By individual store owners.
(c) By the city council.
(d) By the mayor.

3. What kind of selling required the most capital and equipment?
(a) Clothing.
(b) Food and beverage.
(c) Weapons.
(d) Medicines.

4. Who were the forerunners to doormen?
(a) No job mentioned in this book.
(b) Crossing sweeps hired to open the door to an establishment.
(c) Costermongers.
(d) Mudlarks.

5. What did the city of London use several tons of per year?
(a) Coal.
(b) Corn.
(c) Flour.
(d) Tobacco.

6. What type of toiletry items were provided by some of the better lodging houses?
(a) Baht powder and shaving cream.
(b) Laundry soap and wash boards.
(c) Towels and soap.
(d) Soap and razors.

7. Who usually watched Jewish girls who peddled fruit?
(a) Their brothers.
(b) No one.
(c) Their mothers.
(d) Their boyfriends.

8. What is an example of a mutual aid society?
(a) Star Alliance.
(b) Costermen.
(c) Old Relics.
(d) Foresters.

9. Who often became chimney sweepers?
(a) The smallest member of a Costermonger family.
(b) Many young men since it paid very well.
(c) The tallest member of a Costermonger family.
(d) Destitute orphans.

10. How did wholesale suppliers cheat costers?
(a) Making the terms of sell difficult to understand.
(b) Adding hidden interest rates.
(c) Selling rotten produce or shortchanging them.
(d) Holding the stock until it was sold and selling to two different costers.

11. How did Mike manage to live?
(a) By selling bits and pieces he'd find on the street.
(b) His master with whom he apprenticed gave him room and board.
(c) By joining a crossing sweep gang.
(d) By pilfering from the marketplace.

12. What did one Jewish trader claim to have purchased?
(a) A bishop's miter.
(b) An old cloak belonging to the King.
(c) An old cloak belonging to the Queen.
(d) A knight's sword.

13. What happened to the man after he was injured?
(a) He was almost blind.
(b) One leg was amputated.
(c) One arm was was amputated.
(d) He dragged one leg.

14. What did some of the boys do to earn tips while serving as crossing sweeps?
(a) Run alongside buses and entertain the passengers.
(b) Help a chimney sweep take his equipment up on the roof.
(c) Hang out wash.
(d) Saddle horses.

15. Where did costermongers usually live?
(a) Above their stores.
(b) In alms houses.
(c) In the city parks.
(d) In a rented room.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was a job of last resort?

2. What is one thing positive Mayhew says about crossing sweeps?

3. What did many children do about food in the worse lodging houses?

4. What is one thing crossing sweeps did for tips?

5. What did few adult Jews seldom work as?

(see the answer keys)

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