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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What did dustmen do?
(a) Dusted the store fronts.
(b) Kept the noble's carriages clean.
(c) Hauled off the coal dust and ashes.
(d) Cleaned out chimneys.

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

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 type of modern store did costermongers fill in 1800s London?
(a) Grocery stores.
(b) Clothing stores.
(c) Convenience stores.
(d) Department stores.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who looked down upon chimney sweepers?

2. What happened to many coster children if their parents thought they did not bring enough money home at night?

3. Who were the forerunners to doormen?

4. Where did costermongers usually live?

5. What were the two usual reasons customers bought from patterers?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did some crossing sweep get permanent jobs and why were they given the jobs?

2. How did patterers earn their living and what is an example of a story that demonstrated a patterer's skill?

3. What modern institutions did Costermongers fill in the 1800's London and what are some of the merchandise they sold? What did the more intelligent costers do?

4. How did crossing sweeps earn a living?

5. What were the largest group of London street people and what did they do for a living?

6. How did dustmen and mudlarks help each other?

7. What was the story Mayhew told about a crossing sweep from Dublin?

8. How did the costermongers obtain their merchandise and what were the circumstances for borrowing?

9. Where did most costermongers and their families live

10. What did mudlarks do and how did they bathe?

(see the answer keys)

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