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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. What type of toiletry items were provided by some of the better lodging houses?

2. What did Mayhew say was the reason people from wealthier families became patterers?

3. What did Mayhew say all blind musicians had in common?

4. What is an example of a mutual aid society?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Where did most costermongers and their families live

3. What caused a class hierarchy in immigrants in London?

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

5. 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?

6. What was the usual marriage and family situations like with costermongers?

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

8. What are the six categories the author separated the London street people into and how did these street people generally earn their living?

9. What types of generalizations did Mayhew make about the London street people and how did this reflect Victorian thinking on industrialization?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One magician worked as an errand boy for four years until at 14 he began to sell oranges outside a theater. From there he went to selling beer inside the theater, to being an extra on stage, to acting at the age of 15. After the show closed, he worked as the doorkeeper until the owner mentioned an opening for a magician. With no knowledge, skill or experience, he volunteered for the position.

1. Discuss this magician's story in terms of the rag to riches stories which were prevalent in America in this era. (This answer may require some research). Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think this magician's story seems to suggest that anyone of the London poor could do better if they would just work at it? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. What might people in dire straits in modern America learn from this story? 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

Unlike costermongers, crossing sweepers and mudlarks, who were almost destitute, street entertainers seemed motivated partly by ego, by the urge to perform before an audience.

1. Explain how the desire to have people see a person perform could motivate that person to give up a good home to obtain that desire. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss what you would do if you had to choose between performing a song you were very good at before 1000 people for no money or performing that song before two people and being paid.

3. Do you think a person should choose a career she/he is interested in but receives poor compensation or choose a career that makes more money but does not interest the person? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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