“The Stock Market Crash of 1929”
By David Rosen
Chapter 2 (Pgs 8-15)
1. According to the article, people saw the stock prices falling but they looked at it as an opportunity. Define opportunity. What did the people do that can be considered an opportunity at this point? OPPORTUNITY:______
2. Tuesday, October 29, 1929 was considered Black Tuesday. Why was this an appropriate name for this day?
______
3. How much money was lost on Black Tuesday?
4. Use text details to explain why the people were so upset about
losing money when the stock market crashed. (The detail you
need is on page 9) ______
5. On page 9 the author writes, “For many people it was as if their
money had disappeared into a black hole”. What type of figurative language is this? Why do you suppose the author chose these two things to compare? Explain in full. ______
6. What were the two glaring weaknesses during the boom in the
stock market? Why do you suppose the author refers to the weaknesses as glaring?
______
7. On what day was the public informed that “Wall Street was in a panic as Stocks Crash”? (Hint: It was not Oct. 29, 1929.) Where did you find this information? ______
8. How does the saying, What goes up must come down relate to the stock market crash of 1929? Use text details to support your answer.
______
9. The author writes:
The result of these bank failures was disastrous. Word spread quickly. People became frightened that all banks were unsound, or in danger of failing.
What is the meaning of the word unsound? What evidence were the people basing their opinions of the banks on?
Unsound:______
______
10. How would a person who had invested in the stock market feel before
October 29, 1929? Why? Use details to support your answer. ______
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11. How would a person who invested his life savings in the stock
market feel after October 29, 1929? Why? Use details to support your answer. ______