AnswersEnglish 11 B E-LearningHemingway's World War I

Depression and Hard Times Answers

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Based on the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, how does Harburg’s experience during the Great Depression differ from the experiences of most Americans?

A
Losing all of his possessions gave him the freedom to travel and see all regions of the country.
B
He decided to leave the country and find a garret apartment in Paris where he could write.
C
While many other businesses collapsed, Harburg’s business continued to prosper.
D
By being able to develop his creative talents, he profited from the Depression while many others suffered.
2
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Which historical event was the major incentive for Harburg to write the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
World War I
B
the Great Depression
C
World War II
D
the Korean War
3

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.This is the man who says: I built the railroads. I built that tower. I fought your wars. I was the kid with the drum. Why the hell should I be standing in line now? What happened to all this wealth I created? In this excerpt, Harburg explains that his song is giving a voice to

A
the average American family man.
B
the working class and the veterans.
C
the business men who lost everything.
D
the lower classes of society.
4

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.I was walking along the street at that time, and you’d see the bread lines. The biggest one in New York City was owned by William Randolph Hearst. He had a big truck with several people on it, and big cauldrons of hot soup, bread. Fellows with burlap on their shoes were lined up all around Columbus Circle, and went for blocks and blocks around the park, waiting.Which statement explains the irony of Harburg’s description of the bread line?

A
While millions of Americans were suffering from the effects of poverty, Hearst remained one of the wealthiest individuals of his time.
B
Harburg was eating and living well while these individuals had to stand in bread lines to receive food.
C
The men who were distributing the soup from the trucks did not receive any of the food themselves.
D
The individuals, dressed in burlap shoes, needed new footwear more than they needed hot soup and bread.
5

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.Everybody picked up the song in ’30 and ’31. Bands were playing it and records were made. When Roosevelt was a candidate for President, the Republicans got pretty worried about it. Some of the network radio people were told to lay low on the song. In some cases, they tried to ban it from the air. But it was too late. The song had already done its damage.Based on the excerpt and your knowledge of American history, which statement is most accurate?

A
Republican President Hoover was immensely popular with the public.
B
Herbert Hoover was instrumental in the recovery of the American economy.
C
The Democrats won the election due to the success of Harburg’s song.
D
Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, won the election of 1932.
6

Which excerpt from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” best emphasizes the idea that average Americans felt abandoned by the wealthy elite and the government?

A
They used to tell me I was building a dream, And so I followed the mob—When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear I was always there—right on the job.
B
Once I built a railroad, made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, Now it's done—
C
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al— It was Al all the time. Why don't you remember, I'm your pal— Buddy, can you spare a dime?
D
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, Brick, and rivet, and lime,Once I built a tower, Now it's done—
7

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.We thought American business was the Rock of Gibraltar. We were the prosperous nation, and nothing could stop us now. A brownstone house was forever. You gave it to your kids and they put marble fronts on it. There was a feeling of continuity. If you made it, it was there forever. Suddenly the big dream exploded. The impact was unbelievable.Based on the excerpt and your historical knowledge, why did the stock market crash make Americans lose confidence in business?

A
Other industries became more successful and provided needed jobs.
B
Most successful business owners refused to assist those in need.
C
Americans realized that business was not immune to failure and could collapse.
D
Average Americans became the victims of unethical business owners.
8

Read the excerpt from song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”Once I built a railroad, made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, Now it's done— Which idea is conveyed in the excerpt?

A
The speaker does not want to build rails anymore.
B
All the necessary railroad tracks have been completed.
C
The American railroads are the fastest in the world.
D
The speaker used to have work, but now there isn’t any.
9

Read the excerpt from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”Say, don't you remember, they called me Al— It was Al all the time. Why don't you remember, I'm your pal— Buddy, can you spare a dime? The excerpt emphasizes the idea that the problems of the Great Depression

A
affected all Americans in one way or another.
B
drove a wedge between people who once were friendly.
C
brought out the very worst behavior in many Americans.
D
caused many Americans to experience financial ruin.
10

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.The prevailing greeting at that time, on every block you passed, by some poor guy coming up, was: “Can you spare a dime?” Or: “Can you spare something for a cup of coffee?” . . . “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” finally hit on every block, on every street. I thought that could be a beautiful title. If I could only work it out by telling people, through the song, it isn’t just a man asking for a dime. This is the man who says: I built the railroads. I built that tower. I fought your wars. I was the kid with the drum. Why the hell should I be standing in line now? What happened to all this wealth I created? Why does Harburg feel that “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” is a legitimate question, not just a plea from a beggar?

A
With their hard work, these individuals had invested in their country and they deserved to be suitably rewarded.
B
Manual labor jobs were replaced by white-collar jobs, so construction workers had no more options.
C
A dime was only a small amount of money that could feed an entire family for many days.
D
All of the wealthy had retained their riches, while the poor had to suffer through the Depression.
11

What led Harburg to write the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
the biggest bread line in New York City, which was owned and operated by William Randolph Hearst
B
the realization that the prosperity of the past was completely gone and very unlikely to return
C
the able-bodied men he saw begging for money and standing in bread lines in the streets of New York
D
the request President Roosevelt made to Harburg for a catchy and poignant campaign song
12

Which excerpt from the song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” best emphasizes the idea that average Americans felt abandoned by the wealthy elite and the government?

A
They used to tell me I was building a dream, And so I followed the mob—When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear I was always there—right on the job.
B
Once I built a railroad, made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, Now it's done—
C
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al— It was Al all the time. Why don't you remember, I'm your pal— Buddy, can you spare a dime?
D
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, Brick, and rivet, and lime,Once I built a tower, Now it's done—
13

Read the excerpt from the interview with E.Y. (Yip) Harburg.In the song the man is really saying: I made an investment in this country. Where the hell are my dividends? Is it a dividend to say: “Can you spare a dime?” What the hell is wrong? Let’s examine this thing. It’s more than just a bit of pathos. It doesn’t reduce him to a beggar. It makes him a dignified human, asking questions—and a bit outraged, too, as he should be.According to Harburg, the song “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

A
humanizes and lends a sense of worth to the common beggar on the street.
B
was written to assist the poor in getting more money from passersby.
C
answers the question “What is wrong?” for impoverished individuals.
D
lessens the outrage felt by the many poor, marginalized individuals.

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