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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. Why did the puppeteer leave his former job to become a puppeteer?

2. What does the author say happens to a young girl lured away from home?

3. What does Mayhew say about the photographer's business?

4. Why did the puppeteer sometimes change the content of the Punch and Judy play?

5. What did Mayhew call the fact that many would rather starve than accept charity?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What was a casual ward?

3. What was describe that was similar to modern crack houses, what were they like? What happened to the girl the author wrote about who was lured from home?

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

5. Who did Halliday say were swindlers?

6. What did the people Mayhew called "Punch" do?

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

8. What was an example of a male prostitute the author gave?

9. 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?

10. How many prostitutes were there in London?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mayhew made sweeping generalizations about the different types of street people, and often relied on stereotypes. For example, he claimed that all blind musicians were highly religious while all "mechanics" or skilled laborers were melancholy, suffering from chronic depression.

1. Refute or defend the following statement: Stereotypes about people are generally true. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. How do you think stereotyping or generalization in research can affect the results of research? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. The only statement that can be true about a research population is if that population consist of only one person. Discuss this statement in view of Mayhew's tendency to stereotype groups of individuals.

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

Recent immigrants look down on the newly arrived, especially if there is a difference in race, nationality or religion. This is illustrated in Mayhew's attitude towards the Jewish residents, and their mutual disdain for recent Irish immigrants.

1. What emotional motivations might be given for recent immigrants to look down on newly arrived immigrants? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. What financial motivations might be given for recent immigrants to look down on newly arrived immigrants? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss some ways in which the prejudice of one nationality or religion against another might be ended. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,215 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample