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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Mayhew say many costermongers lived in sin?

2. To what was street vending an alternative?

3. What kind of education did most costermongers have?

4. How did the police sometimes help crossing sweeps?

5. Where did costermongers usually live?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who hired dustmen and how did they do their work?

2. How did crossing sweeps earn a living?

3. About how much coal was used in London in a year and who was responsible for cleaning the aftermath of coal use?

4. What were some of the circumstances in the better lodging houses for the street people?

5. Where did orphan or runaway coster children live and how did they get money?

6. How much education did most costermongers have and what was the general extent of their intellectual abilities?

7. What did the patterers do who could be classified as entertainers?

8. What area of trade did the Jewish traders dominant and what did Ragmen do?

9. What was the story Mayhew wrote about a Cheap Jack?

10. What did bolder boys do with coal barges, how was this viewed and what could happen to the boys? How did the boys feel about jail?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bolder boys sometimes climbed onto empty coal barges and swept up the leavings of the cargo. This was considered theft, and they were usually chased off by the owners. Sometimes one would be arrested and sent to jail for a week. Like coster children, they regarded a week in relatively warm, safe surroundings with regular meals as a vacation.

1. Do you think the sweepings of coal left behind should be considered theft? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss what the fact that some children regarded the jail as a vacation says about the coster children's lives. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss ways in which you see coster children as being abused in general in this era in London. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The London City Mission was a group of missionaries of various denominations paid to go door-to-door and read scripture, try to convert residents to Christianity and to encourage residents, especially the poor, to attend church. From 1.8 million home visits 307 poor people attending church for the first time, 3,500 being baptized and 48 persons who were living in sin deciding to marry their partners.

1. Do you think the results the London City Mission had was very poor considering the number of home visits that were done? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think the results of the London City Mission indicates about the poor in London at this time? Discuss the reasons in depth. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Given the amount of time, work hours and effort the London City Mission put into their efforts what do you think they could have done for the poor of London with the same resources that might have helped the people? Do you think they should have done that? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is Mayhew's agenda for this book? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Mayhew's research methods were valid? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. What do you think Mayhew could have done to produce a better book? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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