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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Pammy doing while they walk Pine Street, which Alma finds nearly absurd?
(a) Telling everyone to wish her mother a Happy Mother's Day.
(b) Yelling at strangers.
(c) Talking loudly.
(d) Holding Alma's hand.

2. Where does Alma say she wants to go when Pammy suggests they walk up Pickle Street?
(a) Paul, Sr.'s grave.
(b) Dress shopping.
(c) Out for lunch.
(d) To the movies.

3. What does Paulie claim his father did to him when he punched him in the groin when he was young?
(a) Punched him right back.
(b) Sent him to be without supper.
(c) Called the cops on him.
(d) Sent him to sleep in the shed.

4. Who is the author of "Mother's Day"?
(a) David Foster Wallace.
(b) George Orwell.
(c) George Saunders.
(d) John Cheever.

5. How does Alma remember Debi when they were in high school?
(a) A bright, charming girl.
(b) A quiet, conservative girl.
(c) A strange, trashy girl.
(d) A dirty, rude girl.

6. Why did Alma begin wearing "the wildest underthings" (4) when her children were young?
(a) She had started stripping to make extra money.
(b) To impress her boyfriend.
(c) Because Paul asked her to.
(d) To entice Paul to stop seeing other women.

7. What did Pammy take Alma to on Mother's Day?
(a) The movies.
(b) Lunch.
(c) A park.
(d) A hotel.

8. What did Alma feel her children ruined when it came to her and Paul, Sr.'s relationship?
(a) Their vacationing.
(b) Their financial stability.
(c) Their communication.
(d) Their sex life.

9. What does Alma recall Pammy doing once when Alma tried to adjust her collar when she was younger?
(a) Kissing her cheek.
(b) Holding her hand.
(c) Crying.
(d) Slapping her.

10. In addition to working "dumb jobs" (3) and never marrying, what are Pammy and Paulie always doing?
(a) Asking Alma for money.
(b) Going on fad diets.
(c) Talking about their feelings.
(d) Moving from one apartment to another.

11. What word did Paul, Sr. once use to describe "the efficacy of his tree stimulator" (3)?
(a) Fabulous.
(b) Treacherous.
(c) Nebulous.
(d) Spontaneous.

12. What does Alma wish Pammy would have worn on their Mother's Day outing?
(a) A nice dress or pants suit.
(b) Shorts and a tank top.
(c) A silk blouse and slacks.
(d) Something more casual.

13. What did Alma once do when Pammy and Paulie did not listen to her at the zoo?
(a) She spanked them both.
(b) She had Paul, Sr. take them home.
(c) She called the cops.
(d) She left them there.

14. What is Alma thankful Pammy and Paulie had not been bugging her about during this visit?
(a) Her looks.
(b) Her smoking.
(c) Her drinking.
(d) Finding a boyfriend.

15. In what industry does Paulie work?
(a) Ad sales.
(b) Banking.
(c) Education.
(d) Construction.

Short Answer Questions

1. What instrument did Pammy play briefly when she was younger?

2. How does Alma feel about what her daughter tries to point out to her as the walk Pine Street at the start of the story?

3. What did Paulie try to give Alma and Paul, Sr. when they nearly lost their house?

4. What does Pammy wear while out with her mother on Mother's Day?

5. What did Paul, Sr., once call Alma while he was drunk?

(see the answer keys)

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