Question 1

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Knocker-upper - A knocker-upper was paid to wake people up by tapping on their windows with a long pole before alarm clocks were common.

Question 2

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Pinsetter - A pinsetter manually reset bowling pins and returned balls before automatic pinsetting machines were invented.

Question 3

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Lector - A lector was hired to read newspapers, books, and political writings aloud to factory workers—especially in cigar factories—while they worked.

Question 4

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Town crier - A town crier publicly announced news, proclamations, and events in the streets before widespread literacy and newspapers.

Question 5

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Ice cutters - Ice cutters harvested large blocks of ice from frozen lakes and rivers before refrigeration existed, delivering them for food storage and cooling.

Question 6

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Lamplighter - A lamplighter manually lit, extinguished, and maintained street lamps—especially gas lamps—before electric lighting became standard.

Question 7

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Groom of the stool - The Groom of the Stool was a highly trusted royal servant who assisted the king with toileting and managed intimate personal affairs.

Question 8

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Gong farmer - A gong farmer cleaned out cesspits and privies at night, removing human waste before modern sewage systems existed.

Question 9

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Tosher - Toshers scavenged through sewers, riverbanks, and drains in search of valuable scraps, coins, and lost items.

Question 10

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Faker - A faker hand-colored black-and-white photographs before color film existed, adding pigments to bring images to life. The job faded as cameras advanced, but some artists still colorize old photos today.

Question 11

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Billy boy - A billy boy was a young assistant on sailing vessels and coastal barges, helping the crew with basic ship duties, messages, and day-to-day tasks.

Question 12

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Flatulists - Flatulists were performers who entertained audiences by controlling and musicalizing flatulence — the most famous being Le Pétomane in 19th-century France.

Question 13

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Leech collector - A leech collector gathered live leeches from ponds and marshes—often by letting them attach to their legs—to supply doctors for bloodletting treatments.

Question 14

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Powder monkeys - Powder monkeys were young boys on naval ships who carried gunpowder from the magazine to the cannons during battle — a dangerous but essential role.

Question 15

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Whipping boy - A whipping boy was assigned to be punished in place of a young prince, who was considered too important to discipline directly.

Question 16

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Lungs - “Lungs” worked in alchemists’ shops between the 14th and 16th centuries, manually fanning fires until their own lungs blackened from smoke—eventually causing the job to be discontinued.

Question 17

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Herb strewer - A herb strewer scattered fragrant herbs and flowers across floors at royal events to mask foul smells and create a pleasant atmosphere before modern sanitation existed.

Question 18

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Crossing sweeper - A crossing sweeper cleared mud, waste, and debris from street crossings so wealthy pedestrians could walk without dirtying their clothes in Victorian cities.

Question 19

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Vomit collectors - In ancient Rome, vomit collectors served wealthy banquet guests by holding receptacles for them to puke into, cleaning floors, and wiping up splashes—often being vomited on themselves.

Question 20

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Breaker boys - Breaker boys were young children—often only eight to twelve—who sorted coal by hand, removing impurities in extremely dangerous conditions.

Question 21

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Plague doctor - Plague doctors were appointed during 17th-century outbreaks of bubonic plague. Though iconic today, they were often inexperienced physicians or volunteers who provided little effective treatment and sometimes caused more harm than good.

Question 22

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Breaker boys - Breaker boys were young children—often just eight to twelve—who sorted coal by hand, breaking it apart to remove impurities.

Question 23

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Rat catcher - Rat catchers patrolled Victorian streets capturing rats to reduce infestations, usually killing them with poison. The work was dangerous due to constant exposure to bites and disease.

Question 24

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Elevator operators - Elevator operators controlled manual elevators using levers and precise timing. Some even acted as tour guides.

Question 25

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Human computers - Human computers were people—often highly skilled women—who performed complex mathematical calculations by hand long before digital computers existed.

Question 26

Which of these was a REAL job in history?

Accepted Answer

Toad doctor - Toad doctors were folk healers in the 17th–19th centuries who used live or powdered toads to treat skin conditions. Patients sometimes wore toads around their necks or applied dried toad powder to their ailments.

Which of These Was a REAL Job in History?

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