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WorksheetsHealing 'Brick City': A Newark Doctor Returns Home Analysis
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Which of the following best identifies the central idea of this article?
Physicians have a responsibility to actively campaign for comprehensive
healthcare and health insurance reform in the communities in which they
work.
Davis overcame the influence of a tremendously negative environment to
achieve great success and intends to use his training to better the
community in which he grew up.
Dr. Sampson Davis and his two colleagues were able to become doctors
due to a combination of hard work and luck; many Newark residents are
not so fortunate.
Access to healthcare for people living in high-crime, high-density urban
areas is the primary concern of physicians who live and work in these
underserved communities.
How does the following phrase contribute to the development of the main ideas of
the text: "'It was the Don Moses that I knew from childhood'" (Paragraph 6)?
It illustrates how many people from underserved communities go down a
negative path and it makes Davis's ascent all the more remarkable by
comparison.
It demonstrates the impact the death of a childhood friend had on Davis,
who would go on to become an emergency room physician.
It shows that a life of crime will inevitably result in an untimely death or
permanent incarceration.
It advances the notion that Newark, New Jersey is an underserved city.
What is the author's main purpose in writing the article?
To emphasize the extent to which growing up in a negative environment
can stunt a young person's growth and development.
To show people how doctors from all different backgrounds can work
together to make a difference in the quality of healthcare nationwide.
To inform and inspire people by sharing the narrative of a hard-working,
compassionate person who prevailed over alarming circumstances to
realize great success.
To encourage more young people who have endured difficult childhoods
to pursue careers in emergency medicine.
How does the character of Don Moses in the narrative reflect the broader societal issues discussed in the text?
Don Moses symbolizes the lost potential due to societal neglect and the lack of supportive structures in urban areas.
He represents the resilience and determination often found in individuals from challenging backgrounds.
His character is used primarily to introduce a sense of drama and conflict within the story, without deeper societal implications.
Don Moses is depicted as a figure of authority and success, contrasting the general despair of the community.
What impact does the author hope to achieve by highlighting the successes of individuals like Davis in the article?
To motivate policymakers to provide more support to underserved areas.
To inspire readers with personal stories of overcoming adversity, suggesting that individual effort can lead to success.
To critique the educational and social systems that fail to support many talented individuals in similar situations.
To provide a factual account of events without intending to inspire or motivate the audience.
In what way does the setting of Newark, New Jersey, contribute to the narrative of the article?
It serves as a backdrop that is incidental to the personal achievements of the individuals discussed.
It highlights the challenges and obstacles that the characters must overcome, emphasizing the theme of resilience.
Newark is portrayed as a thriving, supportive community that fosters success and ambition.
The setting is used to contrast with other more affluent areas to show disparities in opportunities.
"It was important for me to come back and be a beacon of hope." This is an example of -
simile
metaphor
personification
hyperbole
Which line from the article shows that Dr. Davis was influenced by his environment and those in it?
He was a young guy that I grew up with in the streets of Newark.
Growing up, I was surrounded by so much negative peer pressure and
negativity, it wasn’t long before I became a part of that fabric.
I sprinted down to the
surgical ICU3 and his body was taken away, but his family was there.
Don Moses
— stayed down the same road of crime, and he was in and out of jail.
"And it so happened that I finished college, I went off to medical school, came back home for
my residency,2 and the first day... I looked up at the board..." This excerpt is an example of -
cause and effect
enumeration
process
chronological
Which statement best reflects the impact of Dr. Davis's background on his career choice?
His challenging upbringing inspired him to pursue a career where he could make a difference.
Dr. Davis chose his career despite his background, not because of it.
His background had little to no influence on his career choice; it was mostly influenced by his education.
The narrative suggests that his career choice was primarily influenced by financial motivations.
Based on the article, what percentage of Newark residents ages 25 and over have never attended high school?
9%
16%
35%
42%
Which line illustrates Dr. Davis' viewpoint on the impact of education?
It changed
my life, and it saved my life in so many ways.
I went down a different side of the fork in the road towards education.
I went off to medical school and came back home for
my residency.
There has to be more
programs that exist... to help the students matriculate through high school, through college...
What does Dr. Davis mean when he says, "And I
often say 17 1/2 because had I been 18, my story would have been written differently?"
If he had been 18 when he committed the crime, he would have gotten a lighter sentence.
Since he wasn't 18 yet, he was not punished as harshly and had time to turn his life around.
Had he not been 17 1/2, he would have realized his dreamed earlier and could have made different decisions.
The age he committed his crime really didn't matter because he would have become a doctor no matter what.
The section "On what it will take to improve health care in inner cities" is organized by -
problem / solution
cause and effect
chronological
concept / definition
What crime did Dr. Davis commit in his teens?
armed robbery
attempted murder
aggravated assault
auto theft
What type of doctor did Dr. Davis become?
a surgeon
a primary care physician
a pediatrician
an emergency room physician
What does the inner city community consider to taboo?
committing a crime
not returning to work in the community
dropping out of school
mental health issues
Who told Dr. Davis, "‘Once you make it, you have to come back and help other people?’"
his mother
his professor
his childhood friend
a fellow medical student
What role does Dr. Davis's childhood experiences play in his decision to become a doctor?
They had no significant impact on his career choice.
His experiences discouraged him from pursuing a medical career.
His background motivated him to make a positive impact in his community.
His childhood was too idealistic to relate to his medical career.
How does Dr. Davis's story illustrate the concept of resilience?
By showing how he avoided challenges throughout his life.
By detailing his seamless transition from education to career.
By highlighting his ability to overcome adversity and succeed.
By ignoring the difficulties he faced in his youth.
