View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is interesting about the test Barbara takes when she applies at Wal-Mart again?

2. The _____________ market proves to be a challenge in the city Barbara moves to in Minnesota.

3. When Barbara returns to her home in Clearview, she finds out that __________ is covering the floor of her room, requiring her to move to a new one.

4. Barbara begins to realize that she is acting like an unhappy __________ when she argues with another worker at Wal-Mart.

5. What does Marge suspect about Holly and this is confirmed when she will not answer the question?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the long employment test at a Wal-Mart job fair seem to be trying to do?

2. What does Barbara do as the focus of her job at Wal-Mart, as it becomes clearer on the first shift?

3. What does Menards offers to Barbara eventually when they call up to hire her?

4. What surprises Barbara about the cleaning method of The Maids, as described in the book?

5. What is the one line of work that Barbara does not even apply for since she does not have the proper clothing?

6. What is the one upside of the Twin Lakes apartment that compels Barbara to sign up for a lease there?

7. What does the author admit to doing which is making her a little nervous about the drug test she needs to take?

8. What is the rate of pay that the Merry Maids claims to offer to those who work for them?

9. When Barbara goes back to Wal-Mart in order to fill out a new test, what happens when she gets a few wrong?

10. Why does the author decide to go to Maine for her next working assignment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Barbara seems to be a good person, someone who looks out for others and even stands up for them when they are being taken advantage of.

Part 1: Do you think Barbara is a good person? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you think Barbara would have stood up for Holly, for example, if she had actually had to rely on her job for money?

Part 3: How do you think Barbara's assignments affected the way she interacted with the other workers? Or didn't it?

Essay Topic 2

The minimum wage workers are kept down and continue to be kept down in modern times. With this idea in mind, it seems that maybe there is a reason for the poverty level to exist.

Part 1: Why might there be a need for poverty level workers in the world?

Part 2: What might happen if the poverty level workers were not around to fill the positions they are in?

Part 3: Do you think it's realistic to have a goal of removing poverty and minimum wage workers completely? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

It seems that the odds are against those who are in minimum wage jobs. From the costs of housing to the way these workers are often not paid well, it seems the cycle of poverty may never end.

Part 1: Why do you think minimum wage workers can not get ahead in their lives?

Part 2: Do you think outside influences are the main reasons why people can not lift themselves from poverty? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think society willfully creates conditions in which minimum wage workers can not succeed? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 858 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample