The 1902 coal workers' strike was finally settled after ---

a presidential commission ruled in favor of the workers.

What job did the breaker boys do?

They picked out the slate and rock from the coal on chutes.

controlled the speed of the mine cars.

The mine operators knew each worker's location in the mine from

his identification tag outside the office.

Why was the mule driver the most "glorious" job?

The driver was free to move all around the mines.

When a nipper was on the job, he was required to ---

open and close heavy doors across gangways and headings.

A mule driver was given a man’s wages

when he was able to drive six mules.

What was the "code of the mines?"

Miners would go get a worker who was injured or killed.

Even though the breaker boys worked hard,

they remained cheerful and full of tricks.

Why didn't women enter the mine?

The men considered it bad luck.

Why did some believe mules were treated better than boys and men?

Mules were expensive to replace; workers could be replaced.

The "nipper's" job was to

open and close the heavy wooden doors in the mines.

Which of these was true of immigrant miners and their families?

They relied on each other for support and assistance.

Which of these was NOT true of superstitious miners?

thought Satan was reflected in rats' red eyes

Why did most miners think it was bad luck to harm the rats?

The rats warned of cave-ins or poisonous gasses by fleeing.

The miners believed that rats

could detect when a cave-in was coming.

After the death of Manus McHugh, who lost his life in the breaker,

no changes were made to make conditions safer.

Why were company shopkeepers able to charge unfair prices?

Miners were afraid they'd lose their jobs for complaining.

didn't care about the safety of the miners' houses.

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Growing Up in Coal Country

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Growing Up in Coal Country, by Susan Bartoletti (reading comprehension quiz, AR test) ***22-31 = AR test (some questions reworded to fit)

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Questions 31

Answers

1
Why didn't Pearl Santarelli go out and play with the other girls when she was thirteen?
She was married.
Her mother needed her help in the kitchen.
She worked for the mine operator.
She couldn't breathe foul air.
2
The 1902 coal workers' strike was finally settled after ---
the Supreme Court ordered workers back on the job.
workers in other unions also went on strike in sympathy.
company owners suffered devastating losses and gave in.
a presidential commission ruled in favor of the workers.
3
When the miners walked home after work, ____________ was waiting for them.
bath water
a big supper
a second job
the hungry cow
4
A "butty" was
a chunk of coal that was hard to break.
the coal car pulled by the mules.
a helper hired by the miners.
a very mean coal boss.
5
One miner said that the worst offense a worker could commit was to
be injured.
miss a day of work.
leave before the whistle blew.
steal coal from the culm banks.
6
What job did the breaker boys do?
They helped load the coal cars inside the mine tunnels.
They used heavy mallets to break the coal on shallow trays.
They operated machines that sorted the coal by size.
They picked out the slate and rock from the coal on chutes.
7
The breaker boys kept their mouths moist by chewing
salt water taffy.
packs of Wrigley's gum.
wads of tobacco.
squares of parrafin.
8
The "spraggers"
always worked alone.
filled the coal cars with shovels.
controlled the speed of the mine cars.
felt their work was dull.
9
To be a mule driver, a boy had to be
strong and brave.
as smart as the mule.
the eldest child in his family.
at least sixteen.
10
The mine operators knew each worker's location in the mine from
the arrows he drew on the mine walls.
the numbered rope he took with him.
his identification tag outside the office.
the color of the hat he wore.
11
Why was the mule driver the most "glorious" job?
A driver could earn higher wages than a supervisor.
Mule drivers spent their time outdoors in the fresh air.
The driver was free to move all around the mines.
It was the least dangerous of the jobs the boys could hold.
12
When a nipper was on the job, he was required to ---
watch for and trap rats that inhabited the mine tunnels.
open and close heavy doors across gangways and headings.
warn the supervisor when he heard sounds of dripping water.
take the tag each worker handed in at the start of each day.
13
A mule driver was given a man’s wages
if he furnished his own mules.
after his twentieth birthday.
if he could keep his mule moving.
when he was able to drive six mules.
14
Most of the company stores
would not give credit.
provided free supplies.
charged exorbitant prices.
accepted food stamps.
15
What was the "code of the mines?"
Mine owners took responsibility for any workers' injuries.
Miners would go get a worker who was injured or killed.
Women were not allowed in the mines because of the danger.
No one worked after "full coal" had been reached.
16
Even though the breaker boys worked hard,
none developed lung problems.
they remained cheerful and full of tricks.
their parents thought their jobs were easy.
many quit working early in the day.
17
Why didn't women enter the mine?
The boss felt it slowed the work too much.
The men considered it bad luck.
The women did not like to get dirty.
There was a law against it.
18
Why did some believe mules were treated better than boys and men?
The mules' job was more important than jobs workers did.
Many workers felt sorry for the animals' lack of freedom.
Mules were easier to work for than miners.
Mules were expensive to replace; workers could be replaced.
19
Most people had the attitude that only ____________ went to school
dummies
rich boys
sissies
smart children
20
The "nipper's" job was to
open and close the heavy wooden doors in the mines.
light the lamps in the passageways.
record the number of hours the miners worked.
provide drinks for the miners.
21
Which of these was true of immigrant miners and their families?
They abandoned their old country ways once they came here.
They had no contact with people of the same ethnicity.
They relied on each other for support and assistance.
They quickly broke their ties with relatives left in Europe.
22
A miner knew his work day was over when
He saw the boss leave.
He heard the whistle.
He reached "full coal."
It was five o'clock.
23
To the strikers of 1902, the most grievous crime was
to use violence.
to be a scab.
to send the children to school.
not to pay the union dues.
24
Which of these was NOT true of superstitious miners?
wouldn't return to their chamber after tools were put away
wouldn't return to work after a dead worker's funeral
thought Satan was reflected in rats' red eyes
ate and rode in the same spot with the same men
25
Why did most miners think it was bad luck to harm the rats?
The rats warned of cave-ins or poisonous gasses by fleeing.
They thought rats belonged to the ghosts of killed workers.
They believed the rats were the "Devil's creatures."
They thought rats stole their food to lead them from danger.
26
The miners believed that rats
could detect when a cave-in was coming.
caused the rashes that appeared on their bodies.
meant bad luck.
could smell gas before canaries could smell it.
27
This book was written by
S. Beth Atkins.
Susan Campbell Bartoletti.
Claire Price-Groff.
Pearl Santarelli.
28
After the death of Manus McHugh, who lost his life in the breaker,
the mine owner paid for the funeral.
great changes were made in the breakers.
the McHughs received money from the mine owner.
no changes were made to make conditions safer.
29
Why were company shopkeepers able to charge unfair prices?
County police were sympathetic to the company workers.
There were no laws against cheating mine laborers.
Miners were afraid they'd lose their jobs for complaining.
They believed it made the miners work harder to pay bills.
30
The breaker boss carried
a rifle.
a stick or a broom.
salve for the boys' sore hands.
water for the boys.
31
Most coal operators
would not hire foreigners.
made sure the miners' homes were safe.
treated the miners like family.
didn't care about the safety of the miners' houses.

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