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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Barbara notes that she made a rule that she had to work hard at her jobs to keep them, not go off on ________ rants or sneak off to read novels in the ladies' room.
(a) Curse-filled
(b) Liberal
(c) Long-winded
(d) Marxist

2. Barbara is also not willing to make up a _____________ in order to pad her resume as she is going off to find jobs.
(a) False life
(b) Number of children
(c) Work life
(d) Husband

3. The other restaurant that Barbara works at during her time in Florida is called ___________, a chain with huge food and calorie packed dishes.
(a) Billy's
(b) Raley's
(c) Jerry's
(d) Bobby's

4. Having spend her life with ____________ struggling people, the author is not happy about getting the assignment.
(a) Middle class
(b) Non-
(c) Upper class
(d) Lower class

5. At what publication does the editor who assigns the story to Barbara work?
(a) Redbook
(b) Harper's
(c) Ladies Home Journal
(d) Glamour

6. Barbara feels to truly replicate the experience of a minimum wage worker, she would need to have a few __________ in tow too.
(a) Relatives
(b) Children
(c) Boyfriends
(d) Bill collectors

7. One manager threatens to take the _______________ privilege from the employees even though this is their only hideout to smoke or eat.
(a) Bar
(b) Break room
(c) Outside
(d) Office

8. Barbara is concerned that her biggest challenge will be to hide her _____________, even though this does not turn out to be an issue.
(a) Writing career
(b) Car
(c) Jewelry
(d) Education

9. Barbara's father had been a _____________; her uncles and grandfathers worked in the mines or for the Union Pacific.
(a) Chef
(b) Journalist
(c) Copper miner
(d) Restaurant owner

10. Barbara says that she will not rely on her superior ______________ to support herself.
(a) Education
(b) Literacy
(c) Resume
(d) Name recognition

11. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, in 1998, the hourly wage necessary to afford a one bedroom apartment was _________.
(a) $8.89
(b) $6.50
(c) $10.00
(d) $7.50

12. As Barbara downs coffee who does she notice is looking haggard when she shows up for her next job?
(a) Carlie
(b) Millie
(c) Stu
(d) George

13. Barbara certainly does not want to do hard ________ labor when she is working at her new jobs.
(a) Physical
(b) Slave
(c) Outside
(d) Mental

14. Barbara wondered why there wasn't more indignation about her ruse, realizing that it was probably because people's notion of __________ is different than she thinks it should be.
(a) Working
(b) Lying
(c) Reporting
(d) Writing

15. Barbara notes that her sister constantly complained about the hopelessness of being a ____________.
(a) Woman
(b) Minimum wage worker
(c) Wage slave
(d) Waitress

Short Answer Questions

1. Barbara admits that at the end of the project, she did break down and ____________, stealthily, though, and never within hearing of management.

2. What did Barbara fear employers would think she was if she were to put the PhD on her resumes and applications?

3. Barbara does admit that she modified her __________ when she was new at the job and wanted to fit in.

4. When a manager sees Barbara having a little __________ during her shift, she is scolded, but instead of fighting it, she walks out.

5. For what magazine does the author of "Nickel and Dimed" work when she is beginning her assignment?

(see the answer keys)

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