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Reading Comprehension Quiz (Lars Eighner, “On Dumpster Diving”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

Lars Eighner, “On Dumpster Diving”

Read “On Dumpster Diving” and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Click the submit button when finished.

Question Why might Eighner want to distinguish between “scavenging” and “foraging,” based on a careful examination of this essay?

1. Why might Eighner want to distinguish between “scavenging” and “foraging,” based on a careful examination of this essay?

Anyone can be a forager, but it takes practice to be a scavenger.

Foraging is too animalistic while scavenging is more human.

Foraging is too closely related to forging, which is real work, something Eighner is opposed to.

Scavenging is too close to what animals do, and Eighner wishes to separate himself from the beasts.

Question Why doesn’t Eighner refer to himself as a “Dumpster diver”?

2. Why doesn’t Eighner refer to himself as a “Dumpster diver”?

Eighner lacks the athletic ability for true Dumpster diving.

Eighner hurt himself diving into a Dumpster and doesn’t do it anymore.

This was a part of his life that he has since given up, and he doesn’t wish to draw attention to it anymore.

True divers don’t call it Dumpster diving.

Question A large percentage of the essay is about gathering food items for human consumption from Dumpsters. Why might this be?

3. A large percentage of the essay is about gathering food items for human consumption from Dumpsters. Why might this be?

It is the part that most people are interested in and wish to know more about.

Eighner was homeless for much of the time referred to in the essay, and finding and consuming food would have been of primary importance.

It generates the most sympathy from the audience for those who have to find sustenance in this way.

All of the above.

Question What might the purpose of this essay be?

4. What might the purpose of this essay be?

to romanticize this life in order to gain more people to this lifestyle

to discourage others from following in Eighner’s footsteps

to inform the world of how wasteful it is

to draw attention to the plight of educated people not able to find jobs in America

Question In paragraphs 38 and 39, he tells the reader that he has initiated others into scavenging and he notes that the new scavenger is “filled with disgust and self-loathing.” He then goes on to note that most people “instinctively look away from a scavenger.” Why is this?

5. In paragraphs 38 and 39, he tells the reader that he has initiated others into scavenging and he notes that the new scavenger is “filled with disgust and self-loathing.” He then goes on to note that most people “instinctively look away from a scavenger.” Why is this?

Watching someone scavenge is far too disgusting to witness.

People don’t wish to acknowledge that some people must scavenge to survive.

Most people are too busy.

People generally like to mind their own business.

Question Why does Eighner hate can scroungers?

6. Why does Eighner hate can scroungers?

They are direct competition for the good stuff.

Can scroungers are always faster than he is.

Eighner doesn’t agree with their lifestyle choice.

They take the most valuable thing to be found in a Dumpster—its cans.

Question Why doesn’t Eighner go through garbage cans?

7. Why doesn’t Eighner go through garbage cans?

There are too many bugs in household garbage.

It is too much of a personal invasion.

Garbage cans are illegal to go through.

The can scroungers hit them first.

Question Eighner writes that he is “horrified to discover the kind of paper which now merits an A in an undergraduate course.” Why might he note this to the reader?

8. Eighner writes that he is “horrified to discover the kind of paper which now merits an A in an undergraduate course.” Why might he note this to the reader?

In this aside, he acknowledges that he did look at some personal items, but more about quality rather than personal information.

It distinguishes him from the common Dumpster diver in that he recognizes intellectual quality and draws attention to his intelligence.

By having a scavenger look down upon others, Eighner undermines our preconceived notions about the social status of scavengers.

All of the above.