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"The Great Stink"&"Toilets of the Future" Scope Scholastic

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 5mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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

a)

rapid population growth

b)

multiple outbreaks of cholera

c)

a decreased demand for night soil

d)

the introduction of flush toilets

2.

In the 1800s, dealing with human waste became a much bigger problem for London. One reason is that ____.

a)

factories were filling the air with soot

b)

London’s population more than doubled

c)

many people had died in cholera outbreaks

d)

heavier storms overloaded pipes

3.

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

a)

it filled the air with germs

b)

it polluted drinking water with deadly bacteria

c)

it put night soil men out of business

d)

the strong odor made people nauseous

4.

Which line from “The Great Stink” supports the idea that human waste polluted drinking water with deadly bacteria?

a)

“Londoners weren’t just disgusted by the stink—they were terrified.”

b)

“These cesspools were usually 6 feet deep and4 feet wide.”

c)

“These cesspools were usually 6 feet deep and 4 feet wide.”

d)

“Poop is crawling with germs that can cause dozens of diseases, including cholera.”

5.

On page 19, author Allison Friedman writes that London’s leaders “passed a law mandating the construction of a new sewer system.”

Based on context clues, what does the word mandate mean?

a)

to officially require something

b)

to give consideration to

c)

to prevent someone from doing something

d)

to put forward a plan or intention

6.

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


She means that having a flush toilet ________.

a)

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

b)

lowered your risk of contracting cholera

c)

required a large amount of water to flush

d)

made night soil men’s jobs easier

7.

The main purpose of the article “Toilets of the Future” is to ______.

a)

teach readers about tiger worms

b)

warn readers about polluted water

c)

spotlight possible solutions to today’s

sanitation challenges

d)

discuss the benefits of composting

8.

The main purpose of the article "The Great Stink" is to _____.

a)

explain how flush toilets work

b)

teach readers about cholera

c)

detail a sewage crisis that changed history

d)

caution readers about the possibility of a new sewage crisis

9.

The three toilets presented in “Toilets of the Future” all __________. (Choose TWO answers.)

a)

use heat to destroy bacteria

b)

convert human waste into a resource

c)

transform solid waste into plant fertilizer

d)

require neither water nor sewers

10.

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

a)

Human understanding of disease has changed.

b)

Access to clean water is important.

c)

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

d)

Aging sewer systems must be dealt with.