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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Ambrose finally figure out about his father’s reaction when Ambrose says he is going through the funhouse with Magda?
(a) His father thought it was humorous
(b) His father does not want Ambrose going without Peter
(c) His father is thinking about taking his mother also
(d) His father wonders if Ambrose knows what goes on in a funhouse

2. What does the narrator say funhouses need at intervals?
(a) Bells to ring if one is sick
(b) Staff members to help lost people
(c) Male and female restrooms
(d) Exit signs

3. What does Ambrose think is a disappointment to eat even though they look good?
(a) Cotton candy on sticks
(b) Corn dogs
(c) Funnel cakes
(d) Candied apples

4. What does the narrator say to count a generation in years?
(a) Twenty years
(b) Thirty years
(c) Thirty-five years
(d) Twenty-five years

5. Why does Magda get angry at the swimming pool?
(a) Ambrose splashes water in her face
(b) A boy she does not know accidentally knocks her into the pool
(c) Uncle Karl pushes her into the pool
(d) Peter tries to drag her into the water

6. What does Ambrose imagine a woman saying to him when he is grown about his words?
(a) His words are what makes him precious to her
(b) He does not talk enough
(c) He has a poor understanding of grammar
(d) He talks too much about himself

7. On what is the old man Ambrose sees in the funhouse sitting?
(a) An armchair
(b) A stool
(c) A long, wooden bench
(d) He is sitting on the floor

8. What does the narrator say is the way to maintain control of one’s voice?
(a) Speak very quickly
(b) Speak in as deep a voice as possible
(c) Talking soberly and listening consciously to your voice
(d) Watch other people’s lips and follow their lead

9. What does the old timer at the door tell Ambrose about the tumble-barrel room?
(a) To stay on the left of Magda so she’ll fall and he can see up her skirt
(b) To hold onto Magda so she won’t fall
(c) To go crabwise to get an eyeful
(d) To look straight ahead to keep his footing

10. What does Ambrose imagine happening as he tells stories to himself, alone in the funhouse?
(a) That the police hear him and bring him out of the funhouse
(b) That he will become a great writer and win a Nobel prize in literature
(c) That an operator hears him and writes down every word
(d) That his voice will get more and more quiet until he is finally whispering

11. Who does the narrator say Peter resembles?
(a) His mother
(b) His father
(c) His Uncle Karl
(d) His maternal grandfather

12. Where is the imaginary torture chamber to which Magda took Ambrose?
(a) On the front porch
(b) In the garage
(c) Behind the hedge in the side yard
(d) Between the woodshed and the privy

13. What does Ambrose decide the daughter of the funhouse operator, who hears his stories, will think of Ambrose?
(a) That he has a truly great imagination
(b) That he is a strange boy
(c) That he must be slightly loony
(d) That she hopes he does not decide to write for a living

14. Of what kind of material are Ambrose’s pants made?
(a) Polyester
(b) Gabardine
(c) Brushed denim
(d) Cotton

15. What does the narrator suggest may be the name of the bay instead of Assawoman Bay?
(a) Chesapeake Bay
(b) East Bay
(c) Oleander Bay
(d) Sinepuxent

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Magda’s rest her right hand while the family is driving to Ocean City?

2. In his imagination, what does Ambrose have in his mouth when he smiles at his wife?

3. How does Magda peel a banana?

4. Why is Ambrose embarrassed when he hands the funhouse ticket woman money for him and Magda?

5. What does the narrator say is an image an author might use when writing a story about Ocean City during World War II?

(see the answer keys)

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