The Great Stink

Which was NOT a contributing factor to the 1858 sewage crisis in London?

• rapid population growth

• multiple outbreaks of cholera

• a decreased demand for night soil

• the introduction of flush toilets

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The way people disposed of human waste in 19th-century London was dangerous because

• it filled the air with germs.

• it polluted drinking water with deadly bacteria.

• it put night soil men out of business.

• the strong odor made people nauseous.

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Which line from “The Great Stink” supports the answer to question 2?

• “Londoners weren’t just disgusted by the stink—they were terrified.” (pp. 18-19)

• “These cesspools were usually 6 feet deep and four feet wide.” (p. 18)

• “Climate change is triggering heavier storms that overload pipes with rainwater.” (p. 20)

• “Poop is crawling with germs that can cause dozens of diseases, including cholera.” (p. 19)

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On page 19, author Allison Friedman writes that flush toilets were “all the rage” and “status symbols.” She means that having a flush toilet

• was wildly popular, showed that you had money, and impressed others.

• lowered your risk of contracting cholera.

• required a large amount of water to flush.

• made night soil men’s jobs easier.

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The main purpose of “The Great Stink” is to _____________; whereas the main purpose of “Toilets of the Future” is to _____________.

• explain how flush toilets work; educate readers about water-related diseases

• teach readers about cholera; introduce readers to the tiger worm

• detail a sewage crisis that changed history; spotlight possible solutions to today’s sanitation challenges

• caution readers about the possibility of a new sewage crisis; convince readers to compost

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Which TWO ideas are supported by both “The Great Stink” and “Toilets of the Future” ?

• Human understanding of disease has changed.

• Access to clean water is important.

• Some U.S. towns are running out of water.

• Aging sewer systems must be dealt with.

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Imagine that you are writing a paragraph explaining how a lack of scientific knowledge affected human health in England in the 1800s.

Which of the following would be the BEST topic sentence for your paragraph?

• People in England in the 1800s did not understand how diseases spread.

• Due to a lack of scientific knowledge about diseases and how they spread, people in England didn’t use safe sanitation practices, which exposed the population to illness.

• London suffered three major cholera epidemics in the 1800s.

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Which information from “The Great Stink” supports the sentence you chose in part A?

• A “More than 30,000 people had died.” (p. 19)

• B “To avoid a goopy mess, people began connecting their toilets directly to the sewers—and therefore to the river.” (p. 18

• C “Poop is crawling with germs that can cause dozens of diseases, including cholera.” (p. 19)

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Which of the following BEST explains why the text evidence you chose in part B is relevant?

• It provides an example of people in England practicing unsafe sanitation because they were unaware that certain diseases spread through water.

• It shows how people in England were affected by disease.

• It explains why safe sanitation is so important.

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Choose the ONE piece of text evidence from “The Great Stink” that best supports the statement below. Then complete the sentence to explain your choice.

The 19th century was a time of rapid change in London.

• A “Kids stand on street corners, selling newspapers and cigars and fried fish.” (p. 17)

• “When they were full, a ‘night soil man’ would shovel out the waste and sell it to farmers to use as fertilizer.” (p. 18

• “Between 1800 and 1850, London’s population more than doubled.” (p. 18)

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