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. Where are the children coming home from?

2. What does Jurgis do after the speech?

3. The answer to #166 are the _______ for the success of Packington.

4. What does the barkeep insist Jurgis gave him?

5. Who is Jurgis' cellmate this time?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the midwife described to the reader?

2. Where does Jurgis next get a job at, that turns out to be a good position?

3. After the family is evicted, where do they go to live?

4. What is the impassioned speech actually talking about in this chapter?

5. Is Jurgis successful in getting the rest of the family converted to socialism?

6. What does Jurgis have complete faith in by the end of the story?

7. What happens when Jurgis goes back to the fertilizer mill?

8. When Jurgis goes back to Chicago for the summer, where does he find employment?

9. What is the senator talking about as Jurgis overhears a political meeting?

10. What does Ostrinski tell Jurgis should happen in Chicago?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of the union seems to be a good one for the workers, but does it ever help the workers? How? Why do you think the union fails in some of their efforts? Why do you think Jurgis ignores the call to strike? In today's world, unions seem to do more good, but do you think they are helpful to workers? Why or why not? In what ways can they harm the working environment?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of not being able to speak English is one that hurts Jurgis and his family in the beginning of their time in the US. Describe three situations in which knowing English would have helped Jurgis and his family. What are some ways that the packing plant owners took advantage of the workers because of the language barrier? Do you think it was fair of the packers to take advantage of the workers? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Sinclair makes it pretty clear in the text the he feels socialism is the answer to the world's problems. Did you think Sinclair's arguments were convincing? Why or why not? How does socialism help Jurgis in this story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 582 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample