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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. In what department does Barbara find she will work when she is as employee for Wal-Mart?

2. What does one company want her to sell, promising her $1650 for doing 54 two hour appointments?

3. One young girl named ____________ refuses to eat and she grows paler each day as a result, obviously she is ill.

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

5. What are employees to think of themselves as when they are working for Wal-Mart?

Short Essay Questions

1. What comes in the emergency food package that Barbara eventually gets from the Community Emergency Assistance Program?

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

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

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

5. Describe what 'time theft' is according to Wal-Mart and its slick produced videos that the author watches during orientation.

6. What does the unattractive young cook at the elder care facility reveal to Barbara as they are out on a smoke break?

7. What does Barbara decide about the entire hiring process after noticing she didn't even ask about salary at Menards?

8. What are the workers in Portland, Maine expected to do as the wages seem to be falling between $6 and $7 an hour?

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

10. What is the second job that the author takes on in addition to the maid job in Maine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of a living wage is something that is hotly debated these days.

Part 1: Why do you think a living wage is necessary?

Part 2: What do you think a good living wage would be for your current location today? Why did you choose this number?

Part 3: If prices keep rising, but the living wage does not, how can a minimum wage worker ever get ahead? What might you suggest as a plan to keep people from living off of fast food and avoiding healthcare?

Essay Topic 2

It could be said that the author's own personal experiences are influencing the way she sees the situations around her.

Part 1: How does one's past affect the way they see the future, do you think?

Part 2: In what ways are the author's descriptions and experiences influenced by her education and her past experiences?

Part 3: Do you think the author could ever be completely objective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

One of the biggest beliefs the author holds about the way a person can better themselves in the world is that education can allow a person to do anything and to be something more.

Part 1: How does the author's educational level help her in the process of this project?

Part 2: Why do you think the other workers around the author don't realize she is more educated than them?

Part 3: Why do you think the author expected the others she worked with to notice her educational level? What does this say about the author?

(see the answer keys)

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