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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. When did the one homeless shelter open?

2. Where was the convicted thief who was interviewed born?

3. What did the mother of the magician do to the family library?

4. What does Mayhew say separates animals from plants?

5. In whom does Mayhew say this moral defect is present?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the photographer's business like according to Mayhew?

2. What was a "Dolly mop" and who did the author consider one?

3. Who was the magician Mayhew interviewed and how did he become a magician?

4. How are the various ways to earn a living cataloged and what types of workers existed in England?

5. What does Mayhew say someone who is unable to work must do and how does he feel about those able to work who won't?

6. How prevalent was theft, where did it often occur and how did a thief make money on stolen goods?

7. Who did Mayhew call street folk?

8. What was an ongoing problem for the company from conductors and how did the bus companies combat that problem?

9. What was the difference between a conductor and other street people?

10. What was a casual ward?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mike joined a gang of crossing sweeper youths. They tumbled together and worked sweeping an intersection together. Each kept his own tips, but they prepared meals together and rented a room together in a low lodging house. When there was not enough money for a room, they slept under the arched stone doorway of a church.

1. What were the advantages of youths working together? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What were the disadvantages of youths working together?Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss in what ways a youth gang as above would be considered a family unit. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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 this position.

1. Discuss the strengths this magician would have had to have worked into the position of magician. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. In reading of this magician's life do you think perseverance or talent was more important? Why? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. In view of the versatility this magician demonstrated in his variety of jobs do you think it is possible Mayhew underestimated the will and intelligence of many of the London street people? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,235 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample