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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. The other staff of the hotel refuses to exchange _________ with the housekeepers or show any sort of respect.

2. Barbara feels to truly replicate the experience of a minimum wage worker, she would need to have a few __________ in tow too.

3. The author most dislikes the visible __________ at the restaurant where she works since they complain and never leave good tips.

4. __________ is a city in which Barbara is afraid she might be recognized, so she looks for work in a nearby city.

5. What is the name Barbara uses for the family restaurant where she chooses to work first in Florida?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the first apartment that Barbara finds when she is out looking for her first new 'home' for the assignment.

2. How much does Barbara think she will have to make in order to pay her rent and for food during her stay in Florida?

3. Why does Barbara want to take on the assignment she actually suggested be done?

4. Why do people end up living with others or in conditions they don't want to live in, according to Barbara?

5. What are some of the other reasons why Barbara doesn't really want to take on the assignment of working for minimum wage?

6. What is the one thing that Barbara says she will not mention as she is applying and working during this experiment?

7. Once Barbara begins to let go of her elitist attitude, what does she realize about the workers around her?

8. What do the managers do to Barbara when she is an employee at Hearthside, she realizes as she continues to work there?

9. What does Barbara find out about Gail and what she has to do when her boyfriend suddenly dies?

10. What kind of job does Barbara say that she will take, money-wise, at least at the start of the experiment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many times, the workers Barbara is with seem resigned to the life in which they have been a part.

Part 1: Why do you think the workers Barbara meets don't really understand that things could be better?

Part 2: Why do you think the workers around Barbara don't know their rights and don't believe them when Barbara tells them what they should expect?

Part 3: Why do you think the workers aren't motivated to do more for themselves?

Essay Topic 2

The management styles described in the book are commonplace for those who have already had minimum wage jobs, it seems.

Part 1: Why do you think managers in the book feel they need to be as demanding as they are?

Part 2: Do you think the managers are consciously trying to manipulate their workers? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think it's possible to be a fair and balanced manager when you are managing minimum wage workers? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

While at times it seems that coworkers band together to help each other out, at other times, they treat each other as though they were unaware of the other's existence.

Part 1: Why do you think coworkers band together at some points of a minimum wage job?

Part 2: Why do you think coworkers can also turn their backs on their coworkers so easily?

Part 3: Do you think the management tries to influence the bonds between coworkers? If so, why? If not, why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 820 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample