"Hard Times" by Charles Dickens

In Hard Times, what is the basis of Thomas Gradgrind's teaching?

• Teach nothing but facts.

• Encourage creativity

• Emphasize math and science

• Challenge students imaginations.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.W.11-12.9

What are the little "pitchers" in this line from Hard Times?

Thomas Gradgrind now presented Thomas Gradgrind to the little pitchers before him, who were to be filled so full of facts.

• teachers

• books

• students

• notebooks

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CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

What does Mr. M'Choakumchild's name suggest about his teaching style?

• He is a patient and gentle teacher.

• He forces students to learn one way or another.

• He wants to make sure that children learn facts.

• He recognizes that students learn in different ways.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

In Hard Times, why does Mr. Gradgrind insist on calling Sissy Jupe by the name Cecilia?

• He misunderstands her when she first gives her name.

• He thinks Cecilia is a prettier name than Sissy.

• He cannot remember her real name and uses any name.

• He thinks nicknames are silly and not to be used.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

What is Dickens's purpose in describing Mr. M'Choakumchild in this line?

He and some one hundred and forty other schoolmasters, had been lately turned at the same time, in the same factory, on the same principles, like so many pianoforte legs.

• He wants readers to know that a large number of musicians had recently become teachers.

• He wants readers to know that many teachers were getting a thorough education.

• He wants readers to know that teachers were all educated in exactly the same way.

• He wants readers to know that teachers used imaginative techniques to reach their students.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

What is Dickens's object of social criticism in this excerpt from Hard Times?

• society's lack of emphasis on education

• the lack of trained teachers and properly equipped classrooms

• the indifference of teachers to their students' needs

• a system of education that treats children like machines

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.W.11-12.9

Dickens has Mr. Gradgrind call Sissy "Girl number twenty" to emphasize that

• there was an emphasis on mathematics in the classroom.

• he was oblivious to the individuality of students.

• he didn't like Sissy.

• there were only twenty students in the class.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

Dickens believes that a child's imagination

• is important and to be encouraged.

• gets in the way of more important facts.

• is to be used outside the classroom, only.

• distracts from serious learning.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

Dickens' purpose in writing Hard Times is to

• inform readers about a particular teacher.

• persuade readers to teach children more facts..

• entertain readers and share his criticism of the education system.

• entertain readers with a nonsensical story.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

What is Mr. Gradgrind's teaching style?

• flexible and creative

• rigid and hostile

• kind and forgiving

• unenthusiastic

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.11-12.3