AnswersTX-English III - BISD BDepression and Hard Times

Depression and Hard Times Answers

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Based on the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, how does Harburg’s experience during the Great Depression differ from the experiences of most Americans?

A
Losing all of his possessions gave him the freedom to travel and see all regions of the country.
B
He decided to leave the country and find a garret apartment in Paris where he could write.
C
While many other businesses collapsed, Harburg’s business continued to prosper.
D
By being able to develop his creative talents, he profited from the Depression while many others suffered.
2
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Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.The prevailing greeting at that time, on every block you passed, by some poor guy coming up, was: “Can you spare a dime?” Or: “Can you spare something for a cup of coffee?” . . . “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” finally hit on every block, on every street. I thought that could be a beautiful title. If I could only work it out by telling people, through the song, it isn’t just a man asking for a dime. This is the man who says: I built the railroads. I built that tower. I fought your wars. I was the kid with the drum. Why the hell should I be standing in line now? What happened to all this wealth I created? Why does Harburg feel that “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” is a legitimate question, not just a plea from a beggar?

A
With their hard work, these individuals had invested in their country and they deserved to be suitably rewarded.
B
Manual labor jobs were replaced by white-collar jobs, so construction workers had no more options.
C
A dime was only a small amount of money that could feed an entire family for many days.
D
All of the wealthy had retained their riches, while the poor had to suffer through the Depression.
3

What effect of the Great Depression is described in the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
The expanded government regulations used to control banking practices led to abuses in power and a financial collapse.
B
The stock market crash of 1929 caused extensive losses in financial wealth for individuals in various branches of society.
C
Due to a lesser demand for food, the production of agricultural goods diminished and farmers struggled to keep their farms.
D
The men who had built and fed the nation and fought in World War I were abandoned and struggling to survive.
4

Read the excerpt from song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”Once I built a railroad, made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, Now it's done— Which idea is conveyed in the excerpt?

A
The speaker does not want to build rails anymore.
B
All the necessary railroad tracks have been completed.
C
The American railroads are the fastest in the world.
D
The speaker used to have work, but now there isn’t any.
5

Read the excerpt from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodle-de-dum, Half a million boots went sloggin’ through Hell, I was the kid with the drum.What reality of the Great Depression does the excerpt convey?

A
lack of spending power
B
lower agricultural production
C
increased unemployment
D
disillusioned returning veterans
6

Which sentence best summarizes the central idea of the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
The United States was built, developed, and protected by women and men of various cultures and backgrounds.
B
The men begging for money on the street helped build and protect our country, and they deserve a better lot than they have been given.
C
Farms, railroads, and the military have greatly diminished in quality since the onset of the Great Depression.
D
A man named Al is responsible for the building, development, and protection of the United States of America.
7

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.We thought American business was the Rock of Gibraltar. We were the prosperous nation, and nothing could stop us now. A brownstone house was forever. You gave it to your kids and they put marble fronts on it. There was a feeling of continuity. If you made it, it was there forever. Suddenly the big dream exploded. The impact was unbelievable.Based on the excerpt and your historical knowledge, why did the stock market crash make Americans lose confidence in business?

A
Other industries became more successful and provided needed jobs.
B
Most successful business owners refused to assist those in need.
C
Americans realized that business was not immune to failure and could collapse.
D
Average Americans became the victims of unethical business owners.
8

Which excerpt from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” best emphasizes the idea that average Americans felt abandoned by the wealthy elite and the government?

A
They used to tell me I was building a dream, And so I followed the mob—When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear I was always there—right on the job.
B
Once I built a railroad, made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, Now it's done—
C
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al— It was Al all the time. Why don't you remember, I'm your pal— Buddy, can you spare a dime?
D
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, Brick, and rivet, and lime,Once I built a tower, Now it's done—
9

What led Harburg to write the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
the biggest bread line in New York City, which was owned and operated by William Randolph Hearst
B
the realization that the prosperity of the past was completely gone and very unlikely to return
C
the able-bodied men he saw begging for money and standing in bread lines in the streets of New York
D
the request President Roosevelt made to Harburg for a catchy and poignant campaign song
10

Which historical event was the major incentive for Harburg to write the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
World War I
B
the Great Depression
C
World War II
D
the Korean War

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