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Worksheets"Hard Times" by Charles Dickens
Total questions: 14
Worksheet time: 7mins
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
What is Mr. Gradgrind's teaching style?
flexible and creative
rigid and hostile
kind and forgiving
unenthusiastic
What kind of student is Bitzer, in Mr. Gradgrind's opinion?
uncooperative
average
creative
ideal
In one area the store was __________—it had no vegetables.
monotonous
obstinate
indignant
deficient
Which sentence incorrectly uses a vocabulary word?
Mr. Gradgrind looked his adversary straight in the eyes and demanded an apology.
Students were encouraged to choose from the approbation of books on the shelves.
Mr. Gradgrind insisted that the students use proper syntax.
The indignant teacher straightened his waistcoat and stalked from the room.
Which sentence contains an error in verb tense?
Bitzer would have liked to learn that yesterday but he will learn it today instead.
Sissy can have a carpet with flowers on it even though Mr. Gradigrind did not approve.
Bitzer told Sissy the facts about horses and she smiles.
Sissy still thought that horses could be very interesting and attractive animals.
