WorksheetsCinderella Man
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 5mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Jim Braddock’s family loses electricity during the worst part of the Depression.
What does this most clearly show about the impact of the Great Depression on middle-class families?
a)
Most families chose to live without electricity to save money.
b)
Even previously stable families faced sudden financial instability.
c)
Power companies refused to serve working-class neighborhoods.
d)
The federal government ordered rolling blackouts across cities.
2.
Mae expresses shame about accepting government relief. What broader social attitude during the Depression does this moment highlight?
a)
Most Americans believed government aid should replace jobs.
b)
People viewed accepting relief as a personal failure, despite widespread hardship.
c)
Only immigrants were expected to use relief programs.
d)
Relief programs were seen as a pathway to guaranteed long-term support.
3.
Jim returns the relief money after he begins winning again. What does this decision reveal about values shaped by the Depression?
a)
People repaid relief funds because they were legally required to.
b)
Winning boxers were expected to donate to charities.
c)
Many people valued dignity and responsibility even during extreme hardship.
d)
Families often rejected relief programs because they were ineffective.
4.
The film shows overcrowded docks with men competing for limited work. What does this imagery reveal about the labor market during the Depression?
a)
Jobs were plentiful, but many refused to work.
b)
Job scarcity increased competition among workers struggling to survive.
c)
Dockworkers were paid unfairly low wages by unions.
d)
Industrial jobs were the only secure form of employment.
5.
Mae tries to hide the family’s financial struggles from the children. What does this show about family dynamics during the Depression?
a)
Parents believed children should handle adult responsibilities.
b)
Families often separated children from parents to reduce costs.
c)
Parents tried to shield children from emotional stress caused by poverty.
d)
Children generally understood the economic crisis better than adults.
6.
Jim criticizes wealthy boxing promoters who cut his contract. What broader tension does this illustrate?
a)
Corruption between boxing promoters and government officials.
b)
Anger toward business leaders who appeared indifferent to workers’ suffering.
c)
Growing public support for eliminating professional sports.
d)
The government’s control over private employment decisions
7.
The film depicts many families being evicted. What does this recurring theme symbolize?
a)
Evictions only happened in areas dependent on farming.
b)
Housing insecurity affected many urban families as unemployment spread.
c)
Most evicted families quickly bought new homes in cheaper neighborhoods.
d)
Evictions were primarily caused by federal housing regulations.
8.
The public rallies behind Braddock as “Cinderella Man.” Why did society respond so strongly?
a)
Americans wanted entertainment because the Depression had ended.
b)
His comeback embodied hope that ordinary people could overcome hardship.
c)
Most workers disliked underdogs and preferred predictable champions.
d)
Boxing was the only sport followed during the Depression.
9.
In the relief office, Braddock stands with men from many backgrounds. What does this scene reveal about poverty during the Depression?
a)
Only single men applied for assistance.
b)
Poverty affected diverse groups, not just the traditionally poor.
c)
Most applicants were immigrants recently arrived in the U.S.
d)
Relief lines were staged for propaganda purposes.
10.
Jim gives his children food from his plate despite being hungry. What broader Depression-era theme does this represent?
a)
Parents expected children to work to support the family.
b)
Families became more focused on personal success than shared responsibility.
c)
Sacrifice and prioritizing children’s well-being became central to survival.
d)
Food shortages were caused mainly by transportation strikes.
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