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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What important question does Dorothy ask Palmer as his birthday approaches?

2. When Dorothy tells him he is famous, how does Palmer respond?

3. How does the gang treat Palmer now that he has refused The Treatment and left them?

4. What happens after Nipper lands on Palmer's head?

5. Why does Dorothy begin laughing when Palmer is talking seriously about Nipper's possible fate?

Short Essay Questions

1. Palmer makes his plan to avoid confrontation with Beans and Mutto on the night of his birthday. What is his plan, and does it work?

2. What do the boys learn in wringer school? Who teaches the class? What does the teacher tell the boys is most important part of being a wringer?

3. How do Dorothy and Palmer finally get Nipper safely out of town and away from danger? How does their behavior then represent their mood?

4. How does Palmer notice his father communicates with hum during Family Fest week? How does he describe this new communication?

5. How does Palmer react when his mother tells he she and his father have known about Nipper for months?

6. What does Palmer find when her gets home to his room, and what does he decide at that moment?

7. What kinds of harassment do Beans and the gang inflict on Palmer after he has walked away from the gang? Why?

8. When Palmer refuses The Treatment from Farquar, what does he tell Beans when he is screaming at him? Why does he run from the gang then? What does Beans yell to Palmer as he is running away?

9. How does Palmer attempt to trick Nipper into not finding him again when he is with his friends? Describe his solution. Does it seem like this would work?

10. Why are Dorothy and Palmer certain they must get Nipper out of town? What other options do they have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Palmer describe the time in his life when things began to change and he realizes he does not want to be a wringer? How does this realization change his life?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Beans is depicted as a mean boy and a bully. He is also responsible for the death of animals. How is Mutto depicted? How is Henry depicted? Why are these three in a gang together?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Palmer's reaction to his mother's confession that she has known about Nipper for months. What does he feel? What does he tell her? How does this experience give him courage?

(see the answer keys)

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