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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 some of these low-end workers go into the business?

2. What did a lodging manager do when a child brought in a stolen item for rent?

3. Where did the street people of London in the 1800s conduct their trade?

4. What type of freedom did costers enjoy that other workers did not?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What were some of the positive aspects of being a costermonger?

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

5. How much money did sifters make, what did they do and why did they do it?

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

7. What were the general appearance of chimney sweeps and who most often worked in this type of work and why did they?

8. How honest were costers' suppliers and how did the costers deal with dishonesty?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Costermongers usually lived in a drab, dreary, dirty rented room. Often it was shared with other family members. A mother, father and four or more children might live in a single room.

1. Discuss how living conditions such as in the statement above might affect a family. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Refute or defend the following statement: Human beings have a right to food, shelter and safety. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Explore some of the similarities and differences between the living conditions of costermongers in London during the era of this book and the slums of modern cities. 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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