Knocker-Uppers Worksheet | Elementary ESL Reading PDF

Leespassage

Long ago, before alarm clocks were cheap and easy to buy, people had a problem. They needed to wake up very early for work, but they had no way to make sure they got up on time. Factory workers, miners, and dock workers all started work very early. If they were late or missed work, they could lose their jobs or not get paid.

This problem led to a special job called a “knocker-upper.” Knocker-uppers were people who walked through the streets very early in the morning to wake people up. They carried a long bamboe stick or used a pea-shooter with dried peas. They would tap on bedroom windows or shoot peas at the windows to wake their customers.

The knocker-uppers had to remember which house to visit and what time each person needed to wake up. Some people needed to get up at 4 AM, others at 5 AM. Each customer paid a few pence every week for this service. The knocker-uppers had to work in all kinds of weather – rain, snow, or cold winter mornings.

Most knocker-uppers were older people or women who could not work in the factories. It was hard work, but it gave them a way to make money. Some knocker-uppers even had their own knocker-upper to make sure they woke up first! This job was very important from the 1830s to the 1940s in Britain and Ireland.

The job of knocker-upper slowly verdwenen when alarm clocks became cheap to buy. After World War II, many people could afford electric clocks and radio alarm clocks. The last known knocker-upper stopped working in the 1970s. Today, we use smartphone alarms, or hotels give us wake-up calls, but the knocker-upper job is gone forever.

Niveau: Niveau C

A. Woordenschat matchen

Koppel elk woord aan de bijbehorende definitie.

B. Waar of onwaar

Schrijf T (waar) of F (onwaar) bij elke bewering.

1. Knocker-uppers worked in the afternoon.
2. People paid knocker-uppers a few pence each week.
3. All knocker-uppers were young men.
4. Knocker-uppers used bamboo sticks to tap on windows.
5. The job disappeared in the 1800s.
6. Some knocker-uppers had their own knocker-upper.
7. Factory workers didn’t need to wake up early.
8. The last knocker-upper stopped working in the 1970s.
9. Knocker-uppers only worked when the weather was good.

C. Vul de lege plekken in

Word Bank: alarm, bamboo, customer, women, disappeared, morning, factory

1. Long ago, _____________ clocks were not cheap or easy to buy.
2. Knocker-uppers carried a long _____________ stick to tap on windows.
3. Each _____________ paid a few pence every week for this service.
4. Most knocker-uppers were older people or _____________ who could not work in factories.
5. The job slowly _____________ when alarm clocks became cheap to buy.

D. Begripsvragen

1. Why did people need knocker-uppers before alarm clocks?
2. What tools did knocker-uppers use to wake people up?
3. How much money did customers pay for this service?
4. Who usually worked as knocker-uppers?
5. When did the last knocker-upper stop working?

E. Discussievragen

1. How do you wake up in the morning? What would you do if you didn’t have an alarm clock?
2. Do you think being a knocker-upper was a good job? Why or why not?
3. What other old jobs do you know that don’t exist anymore? Why did they disappear?

Antwoordsleutel

A. Woordenschat: 1-c, 2-g, 3-e, 4-j, 5-i, 6-a, 7-f, 8-d, 9-h, 10-b

B. True or False: 1-F, 2-T, 3-F, 4-T, 5-F, 6-T, 7-F, 8-T, 9-F

C. Vul de lege plekken in: 1-alarm, 2-bamboo, 3-customer, 4-women, 5-disappeared