Russian RevolutionPractice Reading Review

Russian RevolutionIn 1914, women in Russia took over new jobs in the workplace as the men marched off to

war. In the city of Petro grad, women constituted 55 percent of the labor force. Most women workers held unskilled, poorly paid jobs in the textile industries and worked grueling 12-and 13 hour days. When work was over for the day, the women left their jobs to stand for hours in long bread lines, and then returned home to care for their families.

In less than three years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent. Transport lines for food and coal had broken down. Bread was the main staple of meager diets. Supplies of flour grain were not reaching towns and cities. People starving and freezing to death. Almost half of all children died before the age of three.  Young children were working 11-hour days in factories. The situation was dire, and working women knew that something must be done if their families were to survive.  The working women understood that this intolerable state of affairs had come about because the government was unable to control the distribution of food and coal and to  ration limited supplies.

On March 8, 1917, more than 7000 women went on strike in acknowledgement of International Women's Day, an event initiated in the United States in 1909 to recognize the rights of working women. The striking women were angry, frustrated, hungry, and tired of watching their families starve while their husbands, brothers, and sons were away at the battlefront. Women left their posts to demand an end to the war and an end to the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. They were responding not to revolutionary propaganda but to the politics of hunger.

The women appealed to the working men to join their strike. By the end of the day, 100,000 workers had left their jobs to join the demonstration against the government.  Even the officers and soldiers of the tsar's private army abandoned the tsar because they would not fire on crowds of women. Within four days, the government had lost the support of Petro grad workers, women, and soldiers. The Russian Revolution had begun. (adapted from Kishlansky et al. Civilization in the West. Vol. C. 864.65)

Paragraph One

In 1914, women in Russia took over new jobs in the workplace as the men marched off to war. In the city of Petro grad, women constituted 55 percent of the labor force. Most women workers held unskilled, poorly paid jobs in the textile industries and worked grueling 12-and 13 hour days. When work was over for the day, the women left their jobs to stand for hours in long bread lines, and then returned home to care for their families.

Paragraph One

In 1914, women in Russia took over new jobs in the workplace as the men marched off to war. In the city of Petro grad, women constituted 55 percent of the labor force. Most women workers held unskilled, poorly paid jobs in the textile industries and worked grueling 12-and 13 hour days. When work was over for the day, the women left their jobs to stand for hours in long bread lines, and then returned home to care for their families.

Women had to work hard, low paying jobs and care for their families during the war.

Paragraph Two

In less than three years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent. Transport lines for food and coal had broken down. Bread was the main staple of meager diets. Supplies of flour grain were not reaching towns and cities. People starving and freezing to death. Almost half of all children died before the age of three.  Young children were working 11-hour days in factories. The situation was dire, and working women knew that something must be done if their families were to survive.  The working women understood that this intolerable state of affairs had come about because the government was unable to control the distribution of food and coal and to  ration limited supplies.

Paragraph Two

In less than three years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent. Transport lines for food and coal had broken down. Bread was the main staple of meager diets. Supplies of flour grain were not reaching towns and cities. People were starving and freezing to death. Almost half of all children died before the age of three.  Young children were working 11-hour days in factories. The situation was dire, and working women knew that something must be done if their families were to survive.  The working women understood that this intolerable state of affairs had come about because the government was unable to control the distribution of food and coal and to ration limited supplies.

People were starving and freezing to death

Paragraph Three

On March 8, 1917, more than 7000 women went on strike in acknowledgement of International Women's Day, an event initiated in the United States in 1909 to recognize the rights of working women. The striking women were angry, frustrated, hungry, and tired of watching their families starve while their husbands, brothers, and sons were away at the battlefront. Women left their posts to demand an end to the war and an end to the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. They were responding not to revolutionary propaganda but to the politics of hunger.

Paragraph Three

On March 8, 1917, more than 7000 women went on strike in acknowledgement of International Women's Day, an event initiated in the United States in 1909 to recognize the rights of working women. The striking women were angry, frustrated, hungry, and tired of watching their families starve while their husbands, brothers, and sons were away at the battlefront. Women left their posts to demand an end to the war and an end to the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. They were responding not to revolutionary propaganda but to the politics of hunger.

The women went on strike because they wanted an end to the war and reign of Tsar Nicholas II.

Paragraph Four

The women appealed to the working men to join their strike. By the end of the day, 100,000 workers had left their jobs to join the demonstration against the government.  Even the officers and soldiers of the tsar's private army abandoned the tsar because they would not fire on crowds of women. Within four days, the government had lost the support of Petro grad workers, women, and soldiers. The Russian Revolution had begun. (adapted from Kishlansky et al. Civilization in the West. Vol. C. 864.65)

Paragraph Four

The women appealed to the working men to join their strike. By the end of the day, 100,000 workers had left their jobs to join the demonstration against the government.  Even the officers and soldiers of the tsar's private army abandoned the tsar because they would not fire on crowds of women. Within four days, the government had lost the support of Petro grad workers, women, and soldiers. The Russian Revolution had begun. (adapted from Kishlansky et al. Civilization in the West. Vol. C. 864.65)

The Russian Revolution began after the women began the strike and got the men and soldiers to join.

Which sentence best states the main idea of this passage?

A. The working women of Russia actually started the Russian Revolution.

B. The working women of Russia faced severe hardships during World War I.

C. The working women of Russia were left to manage on their own while their husbands went off to war.

D. The working women of Russia took justice into their own hands.

Paragraph Summaries

1. Women had to work hard, low paying jobs and care for their families during the war.

2. People were starving and freezing to death

3. The women went on strike because they wanted an end to the war and reign of Tsar Nicholas II.

4. The Russian Revolution began after the women began the strike and got the men and soldiers to join.

Which sentence best states the main idea of this passage?

A. The working women of Russia actually started the Russian Revolution.

B. The working women of Russia faced severe hardships during World War I.

C. The working women of Russia were left to manage on their own while their husbands went off to war.

D. The working women of Russia took justice into their own hands.

The primary purpose of this passage is to

A. provide the historical background leading to the Russian women's involvement in the Russian Revolution.

B. to list the advantages and disadvantages that occur as a result of women working in Russia.

C. argue that women should take a more prominent role in the government of Russia.

D. describe the influence that the women of the United States had on influencing the Russian women to revolt against their government.

MI: The working women of Russia actually started the Russian Revolution.

The primary purpose of this passage is to

A. provide the historical background leading to the Russian women's involvement in the Russian Revolution.

B. to list the advantages and disadvantages that occur as a result of women working in Russia.

C. argue that women should take a more prominent role in the government of Russia.

D. describe the influence that the women of the United States had on influencing the Russian women to revolt against their government.

MI: The working women of Russia actually started the Russian Revolution.

The author uses an overall organization pattern that

A. explains the time line of World War I and the Russian Revolution.

B. lists reasons for the women's involvement in the Russian Revolution.

C. compares and contrasts the contributions of the Russian women with those of the men.

D. provides examples of the women's views toward politics.

MI: The working women of Russia actually started the Russian Revolution.

P: provide the historical background leading to the Russian women's involvement in the Russian Revolution.

The author uses an overall organization pattern that

A. explains the time line of World War I and the Russian Revolution.

B. lists reasons for the women's involvement in the Russian Revolution.

C. compares and contrasts the contributions of the Russian women with those of the men.

D. provides examples of the women's views toward politics.

MI: The working women of Russia actually started the Russian Revolution.

P: provide the historical background leading to the Russian women's involvement in the Russian Revolution.

The tone of this passage could best be described as

A. nostalgic

B. sarcastic

C. sympathetic

D. bitter

The tone of this passage could best be described as

A. nostalgic

B. sarcastic

C. sympathetic

D. bitter

The main idea of paragraph two is

A. Russian families suffered many hardships as a result of the war.

B. The Tsar of Russia was in turmoil over the inability to provide for the citizens.

C. Russian families were starving as a result of the war because there was too little food.

D. Many Russian children endured a horrible fate after the onset of the war.

Paragraph Two

In less than three years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent. Transport lines for food and coal had broken down. Bread was the main staple of meager diets. Supplies of flour grain were not reaching towns and cities. People were starving and freezing to death. Almost half of all children died before the age of three.  Young children were working 11-hour days in factories. The situation was dire, and working women knew that something must be done if their families were to survive.  The working women understood that this intolerable state of affairs had come about because the government was unable to control the distribution of food and coal and to ration limited supplies.

People were starving and freezing to death

The main idea of paragraph two is

A. Russian families suffered many hardships as a result of the war.

B. The Tsar of Russia was in turmoil over the inability to provide for the citizens.

C. Russian families were starving as a result of the war because there was too little food.

D. Many Russian children endured a horrible fate after the onset of the war.

Identify the relationship between the following two sentences from paragraph one

"Most women workers held unskilled, poorly paid jobs in the textile industries and worked grueling 12- and 13-hour days. When work was over for the day, the women left their jobs to stand for hours in long bread lines, and then returned home to care for their families." (lines 3-6)

A. Cause and effect

B. Time order

C. Simple listing

D. Contrast

Identify the relationship between the following two sentences from paragraph one

"Most women workers held unskilled, poorly paid jobs in the textile industries and worked grueling 12- and 13-hour days. When work was over for the day, the women left their jobs to stand for hours in long bread lines, and then returned home to care for their families." (lines 3-6)

A. Cause and effect

B. Time order

C. Simple listing

D. Contrast

What is the relationship between the parts of the following sentence?

"Even the officers and soldiers of the tsar's private army abandoned the tsar because they would not fire on crowds of women." (lines 30-32)

A. Cause and effect

B. Addition

C. Time order

D. Comparison

What is the relationship between the parts of the following sentence?

"Even the officers and soldiers of the tsar's private army abandoned the tsar because they would not fire on crowds of women." (lines 30-32)

A. Cause and effect

B. Addition

C. Time order

D. Comparison

"In less than 3 years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent."

The sentence above is a statement of

A. fact

B. opinion

C. informed opinion

D. bias

"In less than 3 years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent."

The sentence above is a statement of

A. fact

B. opinion

C. informed opinion

D. bias

Based on the passage, the tsar's soldiers did not stop the protesters because

A. they refused to fire upon crowds of women.

B. they were in secret agreement about the horrible conditions the people were forced to endure.

C. they were out of the city at that time, housed at the tsar's winter palace.

D. they were outnumbered since most of the men were away fighting in the war.

Based on the passage, the tsar's soldiers did not stop the protesters because

A. they refused to fire upon crowds of women.

B. they were in secret agreement about the horrible conditions the people were forced to endure.

C. they were out of the city at that time, housed at the tsar's winter palace.

D. they were outnumbered since most of the men were away fighting in the war.

The word dire (line 14) means

A. extraordinary

B. desperate

C. dangerous

D. favorable

Paragraph Two

In less than three years after the war had begun, prices had increased 400 percent. Transport lines for food and coal had broken down. Bread was the main staple of meager diets. Supplies of flour grain were not reaching towns and cities. People starving and freezing to death. Almost half of all children died before the age of three.  Young children were working 11-hour days in factories. The situation was dire, and working women knew that something must be done if their families were to survive.  The working women understood that this intolerable state of affairs had come about because the government was unable to control the distribution of food and coal and to  ration limited supplies.

The situation was , and working women knew that something must be

done if their families were to survive. 

A. extraordinary

B. desperate

C. dangerous

D. favorable

The word dire (line 14) means

A. extraordinary

B. desperate

C. dangerous

D. favorable

The situation was , and working women knew that something must be done if their families were to survive.