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

2. Barbara thinks she is supposed to _____________ on her shift, but no one else on her shift does.

3. The obvious __________ of the sales company is a breath of fresh air for the author compared to the false concern from Wal-Mart.

4. Wal-Mart contends that _______ take money from workers and risk the wages of workers

5. Given that The Maids are paid _______, Barbara doesn't understand why they need to rush through their duties.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author do on a night when she has nothing to do and no money to spend on entertainment?

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

3. Why so the Maids think that the job they are offering is easy for someone to learn and to do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. After Barbara takes her drug test, what does she do in terms of her job hunting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It seems that most of the places where Barbara worked didn't want to give employees any time off or any breaks.

Part 1: Why do you think the places of employment were unwilling to give breaks to the workers?

Part 2: What do you think may have happened to morale and productivity if the employees had been allowed to take breaks?

Part 3: Why do you think breaks are necessary within the course of a working shift?

Essay Topic 2

The costs of housing seem to be higher than one might expect, even for the year in which the author attempted this study.

Part 1: Why do you think housing costs are so high for such horrible apartments?

Part 2: Why do you think society and the government doesn't seem to recognize how exorbitant the housing prices are?

Part 3: Do you think housing prices can ever be completely fair? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 780 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample