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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What did Paul, Sr., once call Alma while he was drunk?
(a) Muffin.
(b) Milly.
(c) Lolly.
(d) Peggy.

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

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

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

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

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

8. What is Debi doing outside of her house when Alma sees her as she and Pammy reach the house?
(a) Mowing her lawn.
(b) Painting her house.
(c) Planting roses.
(d) Sweeping her sidewalk.

9. What does Alma think the place Pammy works smells like?
(a) Hemp.
(b) Sweat.
(c) Crap.
(d) Patchouli.

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

11. Where does Pammy work?
(a) No Animals Need Die.
(b) No Trees Need Die.
(c) No People Should Go Hungry.
(d) No Guns Necessary.

12. What instrument did Pammy play briefly when she was younger?
(a) Drums.
(b) Trumpet.
(c) Piccolo.
(d) Harp.

13. When Pammy snaps Alma out of her daydream when they are walking, what reason does Alma give for stopping?
(a) She cannot remember where she is.
(b) She was daydreaming.
(c) She thought she forgot something at the restaurant.
(d) Her knees hurt.

14. What did Pammy and Paulie witness one fourth of July when they were young and playing with sparklers?
(a) Paul, Sr. hit Alma.
(b) Their parents having sex.
(c) Paul, Sr. having sex with another woman.
(d) A car accident.

15. Why did Paulie miss the Mother's Day outing with Pammy and Alma?
(a) His flight was delayed.
(b) He had the dates mixed up.
(c) He missed his flight.
(d) He slept in.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the author of "Mother's Day"?

2. In what industry does Paulie work?

3. Where does Alma say she wants to go when Pammy suggests they walk up Pickle Street?

4. What does Alma recall about Debi's parents?

5. What does Pammy try to point out to her mother as they walk Pine Street at the start of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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