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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. What is a "Patent American Air Preserver"?

2. What did the fire eater have to do once to win five shillings on a bet?

3. To what does Hemyng say the theater, fireworks, low lodging houses, drinking, smoking, the music hall and blasphemy contribute?

4. How were street folk different from patterers?

5. What does the author say beggars often spent considerable amounts of money buying?

Short Essay Questions

1. How many visits were done by the London City Mission and what were the results of those visits?

2. Who did Halliday say were swindlers?

3. Why was the clown Mayhew interviewed depressed and why was he a clown?

4. What was the purpose of the mission?

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

6. What did the London City Mission do?

7. Why did the author say "Dolly shops" were suspect?

8. 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?

9. What differentiated street folk from patterers?

10. What did bus drivers own, what did they do and what other work had many of them done? How often did they work and what did their work prevent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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 the position.

1. Discuss this magician's story in terms of the rag to riches stories which were prevalent in America in this era. (This answer may require some research). Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think this magician's story seems to suggest that anyone of the London poor could do better if they would just work at it? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. What might people in dire straits in modern America learn from this story? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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