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Reading Comprehension Quiz (Eric Schlosser, “In the Strawberry Fields”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

Eric Schlosser, “In the Strawberry Fields”

Read “In the Strawberry Fields” and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Click the submit button when finished.

Question The main topic of this essay could best be described as

1. The main topic of this essay could best be described as

strawberry pickers in California and the life they live.

immigrant labor and how the agriculture industry exploits them.

how the strawberry came to be known as “la fruita del diablo”

None of the above.

Question Throughout this essay, Schlosser places the blame for the working conditions on

2. Throughout this essay, Schlosser places the blame for the working conditions on

the workers because they accept these circumstances.

the factories that buy the fruit.

the government for allowing this to happen.

None of the above.

Question This essay can best be described as a(n)

3. This essay can best be described as a(n)

personal essay.

persuasive essay.

formal argument.

satirical essay.

Question How does Schlosser generate sympathy for the workers in his essay?

4. How does Schlosser generate sympathy for the workers in his essay?

He describes their living and work conditions along with their salaries.

He describes the sights and smells of the fields where they work.

He describes the political turmoil that affects Mexico in great detail.

He focuses on one family as they try to make their way through the harvest.

Question What are the primary reasons that this situation remains as it is?

5. What are the primary reasons that this situation remains as it is?

more and more competition in the industry

poor economic conditions in Mexico

lax laws governing immigrant labor

All of the above.

Question Why don’t the farms build homes for their workers in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties?

6. Why don’t the farms build homes for their workers in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties?

The government won’t allow them to build more affordable housing.

The migrant workers don’t wish to have more homes.

Those counties have some of the highest housing costs in the country.

There are already enough homes in the area.

Question In paragraph 12, Schlosser describes the different immigrants that have come to this area of California and have been buried in the local cemetery. Why does he do that?

7. In paragraph 12, Schlosser describes the different immigrants that have come to this area of California and have been buried in the local cemetery. Why does he do that?

By showing the vast number of Hispanic graves, he shows how many of them are dying each year in the fields.

Schlosser wants to show that throughout the area’s history, immigrant labor has fueled economic progress.

The cemetery is the only reliable source of information regarding the percentages of minority people who have lived in the area across the decades.

All of the above.

Question How, according to Schlosser, have advancements in transportation and cooling technology worked to keep the Mexican people impoverished?

8. How, according to Schlosser, have advancements in transportation and cooling technology worked to keep the Mexican people impoverished?

Because the migrant workers are willing to work for so much less than other workers, they are not out trying to buy new technologies; therefore, people with more money are able to buy the best products without competition.

The costs of goods have remained constant through all of this time; therefore, in order for businesses to make a profit, they must cut the cost of labor, and employers cannot pay their workers any more than they already do.

It is now cheaper to ship food to other parts of the world; therefore, the demand for goods has increased, and there is more of a need for labor.

All of the above.

Question In telling the story of the college workers who come to Doug’s farm and “don’t last an hour out there,” Schlosser is subtly suggesting that

9. In telling the story of the college workers who come to Doug’s farm and “don’t last an hour out there,” Schlosser is subtly suggesting that

local, non-Hispanic workers don’t wish to do these jobs.

migrant workers have no business doing this job.

he feels guilty for sending college kids to work in his fields.

college kids don’t appreciate where money comes from.

Question In the final paragraphs of the essay, Schlosser comes to the primary point of his article. What is that?

10. In the final paragraphs of the essay, Schlosser comes to the primary point of his article. What is that?

The farmers and corporations are corrupt and should not be allowed to conduct business in this way.

The migrant workers are taking jobs away from citizens that need the work and laws should be passed to stop this.

Exploitation of the workers will continue as long as the United States continues to follow the free market economy.

Real estate developers need to build more affordable and realistic housing projects where everyone can afford to live.