Question
The Great Depression was one of the worst economic catastrophes in American history and a major disaster of the modern era. It was harrowing to experience. People were starving, even in the land of plenty. It triggered political upheavals in Europe that had devastating consequences. And it was so persistent that it only yielded to another global tragedy: the Second World War.
But in the United States, it was not without a silver lining; it inspired President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to launch economic and social reforms that still benefit the living standards and quality of life for many Americans today.
The Great Depression started in 1929 with an unexceptional development. American shoppers spent less than usual on consumer goods, which triggered a familiar phenomenon: a recession. But what happened next was out of the ordinary — although production, consumption, and companies’ profits were sinking, investors kept buying more stock and pushing their prices to unrealistic heights.
On October 24, 1929, a day remembered as “Black Thursday,” enough investors decided to cash in on the boom to start a massive sell-off that pricked the stock market bubble. Within a week, prices on Wall Street hit new lows, and panicky investors dumped 29 million shares, giving the American economy a shock equivalent to the fire sale of thousands of businesses and factories.
After the stock market crash came a banking crisis. With unemployment rising and investment plunging, thousands of investors lost confidence in their banks and in the fall of 1930 began withdrawing their deposits. That forced banks to liquidate loans, and within two years, thousands of banks went out of business.
As factories closed doors, one in four Americans lost their jobs. With no bank loans to tie them over, farmers left their crops in the fields — while in towns, people starved. Bread lines, soup kitchens, and homeless college graduates selling apples in the streets became part of the American scene.
As housing construction stopped and factories closed their doors, U.S. production of goods and services — the country’s gross domestic product, or GDP — was cut in half, and foreign trade shrank 70%. In short order, the global impact of America’s economic downturn bore out the complaint of millions of Europeans that “when America sneezes, we catch pneumonia.”
The Global Impact
The pain caused by the Great Depression was felt as far as Australia, where in 1932 unemployment reached a record high of 29%. Civil unrest became common. In France, the depression triggered street riots and strained the nation’s social fabric by strengthening both socialists and their far-right opponents.
In Great Britain, industrial production collapsed, ship building dropped 90%, and in some towns unemployment reached 70%. In 1934, a “National Hunger March” of jobless workers turned into several days of street fighting in London, during which 75 people were seriously injured.
Worst of all were the effects in Germany. In 1932, unable to secure loans from American banks, the Weimar Republic cancelled 90% of its reparation payments to the victors of WWI. The same year, the rise of unemployment to nearly 30% destroyed all confidence in the centrist party and divided most of the electorate between the extreme right and left. Although Adolf Hitler lost the elections to the incumbent President von Hindenburg, the Nazis and the Communists won the majority in Germany’s parliament.
In the U.S., the gathering clouds of global upheaval contradicted the assurances from President Herbert Hoover that the crisis, if left alone, would run its course, just like other recessions in the past. A Republican and businessman, Hoover believed that government should not directly intervene in the economy and that it was not responsible for creating jobs or providing economic relief to its citizens. He eventually did try to stem the economic slide with two laws to spur new home construction and public works programs, but they were too little and too late.
The runs on banks continued, and by the fall of 1932, businesses and families defaulted on record numbers of loans. More than 5,000 banks had failed, and the U.S. Treasury didn’t have enough cash to pay all government workers. Hundreds of thousands of Americans had lost their homes and lived in tents and shantytowns derisively called “Hoovervilles.”
It was a classic setting for a political upheaval, and it came — just like in Europe — in 1932. But unlike in Europe, American voters in the November presidential elections voted for democracy. The Communists, the only extremists in the race, won a paltry ¼ of 1% of the vote. Norman Thomas, a Democratic Socialist, won over 2%. Hoover’s Republicans came in second with less than 40% of the vote. And the winner, in a landslide, was Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with over 57% of the electorate.
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the author, Mike Kubic's, use of historical context in the passage?(1 point)
Responses
It is irrelevant to the main argument presented.
It is irrelevant to the main argument presented.
It serves to provide a backdrop for understanding the events.
It serves to provide a backdrop for understanding the events.
It distracts from the emotional impact of the narrative.
It distracts from the emotional impact of the narrative.
It is used solely to criticize political figures.
It is used solely to criticize political figures.
Question 2
The phrase "when America sneezes, we catch pneumonia" is an example of which literary element? (1 point)
Responses
Simile
Simile
Personification
Personification
Symbolism
Symbolism
Idiom
Idiom
Question 3
In terms of structure, how does the author organize the information about the Great Depression? (1 point)
Responses
By comparing and contrasting different countries
By comparing and contrasting different countries
Thematically, focusing on different societal impacts
Thematically, focusing on different societal impacts
Chronologically, detailing events as they unfolded
Chronologically, detailing events as they unfolded
By presenting a personal narrative from various individuals
By presenting a personal narrative from various individuals
Question 4
The Great Depression had a global impact, with countries like Australia experiencing high unemployment rates as a result.(1 point)
Responses
True
True
False
False
Question 5
What is the primary purpose of the phrase "harrowing to experience" in the passage?(1 point)
Responses
To introduce a new idea about the Great Depression
To introduce a new idea about the Great Depression
To emphasize the severity of the situation
To emphasize the severity of the situation
To suggest that the experience was exaggerated
To suggest that the experience was exaggerated
To compare it to other historical events
But in the United States, it was not without a silver lining; it inspired President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to launch economic and social reforms that still benefit the living standards and quality of life for many Americans today.
The Great Depression started in 1929 with an unexceptional development. American shoppers spent less than usual on consumer goods, which triggered a familiar phenomenon: a recession. But what happened next was out of the ordinary — although production, consumption, and companies’ profits were sinking, investors kept buying more stock and pushing their prices to unrealistic heights.
On October 24, 1929, a day remembered as “Black Thursday,” enough investors decided to cash in on the boom to start a massive sell-off that pricked the stock market bubble. Within a week, prices on Wall Street hit new lows, and panicky investors dumped 29 million shares, giving the American economy a shock equivalent to the fire sale of thousands of businesses and factories.
After the stock market crash came a banking crisis. With unemployment rising and investment plunging, thousands of investors lost confidence in their banks and in the fall of 1930 began withdrawing their deposits. That forced banks to liquidate loans, and within two years, thousands of banks went out of business.
As factories closed doors, one in four Americans lost their jobs. With no bank loans to tie them over, farmers left their crops in the fields — while in towns, people starved. Bread lines, soup kitchens, and homeless college graduates selling apples in the streets became part of the American scene.
As housing construction stopped and factories closed their doors, U.S. production of goods and services — the country’s gross domestic product, or GDP — was cut in half, and foreign trade shrank 70%. In short order, the global impact of America’s economic downturn bore out the complaint of millions of Europeans that “when America sneezes, we catch pneumonia.”
The Global Impact
The pain caused by the Great Depression was felt as far as Australia, where in 1932 unemployment reached a record high of 29%. Civil unrest became common. In France, the depression triggered street riots and strained the nation’s social fabric by strengthening both socialists and their far-right opponents.
In Great Britain, industrial production collapsed, ship building dropped 90%, and in some towns unemployment reached 70%. In 1934, a “National Hunger March” of jobless workers turned into several days of street fighting in London, during which 75 people were seriously injured.
Worst of all were the effects in Germany. In 1932, unable to secure loans from American banks, the Weimar Republic cancelled 90% of its reparation payments to the victors of WWI. The same year, the rise of unemployment to nearly 30% destroyed all confidence in the centrist party and divided most of the electorate between the extreme right and left. Although Adolf Hitler lost the elections to the incumbent President von Hindenburg, the Nazis and the Communists won the majority in Germany’s parliament.
In the U.S., the gathering clouds of global upheaval contradicted the assurances from President Herbert Hoover that the crisis, if left alone, would run its course, just like other recessions in the past. A Republican and businessman, Hoover believed that government should not directly intervene in the economy and that it was not responsible for creating jobs or providing economic relief to its citizens. He eventually did try to stem the economic slide with two laws to spur new home construction and public works programs, but they were too little and too late.
The runs on banks continued, and by the fall of 1932, businesses and families defaulted on record numbers of loans. More than 5,000 banks had failed, and the U.S. Treasury didn’t have enough cash to pay all government workers. Hundreds of thousands of Americans had lost their homes and lived in tents and shantytowns derisively called “Hoovervilles.”
It was a classic setting for a political upheaval, and it came — just like in Europe — in 1932. But unlike in Europe, American voters in the November presidential elections voted for democracy. The Communists, the only extremists in the race, won a paltry ¼ of 1% of the vote. Norman Thomas, a Democratic Socialist, won over 2%. Hoover’s Republicans came in second with less than 40% of the vote. And the winner, in a landslide, was Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with over 57% of the electorate.
Question 1
Which of the following best describes the author, Mike Kubic's, use of historical context in the passage?(1 point)
Responses
It is irrelevant to the main argument presented.
It is irrelevant to the main argument presented.
It serves to provide a backdrop for understanding the events.
It serves to provide a backdrop for understanding the events.
It distracts from the emotional impact of the narrative.
It distracts from the emotional impact of the narrative.
It is used solely to criticize political figures.
It is used solely to criticize political figures.
Question 2
The phrase "when America sneezes, we catch pneumonia" is an example of which literary element? (1 point)
Responses
Simile
Simile
Personification
Personification
Symbolism
Symbolism
Idiom
Idiom
Question 3
In terms of structure, how does the author organize the information about the Great Depression? (1 point)
Responses
By comparing and contrasting different countries
By comparing and contrasting different countries
Thematically, focusing on different societal impacts
Thematically, focusing on different societal impacts
Chronologically, detailing events as they unfolded
Chronologically, detailing events as they unfolded
By presenting a personal narrative from various individuals
By presenting a personal narrative from various individuals
Question 4
The Great Depression had a global impact, with countries like Australia experiencing high unemployment rates as a result.(1 point)
Responses
True
True
False
False
Question 5
What is the primary purpose of the phrase "harrowing to experience" in the passage?(1 point)
Responses
To introduce a new idea about the Great Depression
To introduce a new idea about the Great Depression
To emphasize the severity of the situation
To emphasize the severity of the situation
To suggest that the experience was exaggerated
To suggest that the experience was exaggerated
To compare it to other historical events
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Sure! Here are the responses to each question based on the provided passage:
**Question 1**
Which of the following best describes the author, Mike Kubic's, use of historical context in the passage?
**Response:** It serves to provide a backdrop for understanding the events.
---
**Question 2**
The phrase "when America sneezes, we catch pneumonia" is an example of which literary element?
**Response:** Idiom
---
**Question 3**
In terms of structure, how does the author organize the information about the Great Depression?
**Response:** Chronologically, detailing events as they unfolded
---
**Question 4**
The Great Depression had a global impact, with countries like Australia experiencing high unemployment rates as a result.
**Response:** True
---
**Question 5**
What is the primary purpose of the phrase "harrowing to experience" in the passage?
**Response:** To emphasize the severity of the situation
---
Let me know if you need further assistance!
**Question 1**
Which of the following best describes the author, Mike Kubic's, use of historical context in the passage?
**Response:** It serves to provide a backdrop for understanding the events.
---
**Question 2**
The phrase "when America sneezes, we catch pneumonia" is an example of which literary element?
**Response:** Idiom
---
**Question 3**
In terms of structure, how does the author organize the information about the Great Depression?
**Response:** Chronologically, detailing events as they unfolded
---
**Question 4**
The Great Depression had a global impact, with countries like Australia experiencing high unemployment rates as a result.
**Response:** True
---
**Question 5**
What is the primary purpose of the phrase "harrowing to experience" in the passage?
**Response:** To emphasize the severity of the situation
---
Let me know if you need further assistance!
There are no human answers yet. A form for humans to post answers is coming very soon!