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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Elieen who Alma recalls when thinking of Pammy and Paulie's younger days?
(a) Pammy's best friend.
(b) Paulie's teacher.
(c) Paulie's ex-girlfriend.
(d) Pammy's first girlfriend.

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

3. What did Paulie try to give Alma and Paul, Sr. when they nearly lost their house?
(a) Several gold pieces.
(b) His life savings.
(c) A couple of crumpled dollar bills.
(d) A cup of pennies.

4. What does Pammy try to point out to her mother as they walk Pine Street at the start of the story?
(a) Purple flowers.
(b) The nice houses.
(c) All the traffic.
(d) The rain clouds.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Alma thankful Pammy and Paulie had not been bugging her about during this visit?

2. Why did Paulie miss the Mother's Day outing with Pammy and Alma?

3. What does Alma recall Paul, Sr. doing the time Pammy slapped her?

4. What is Pammy doing while they walk Pine Street, which Alma finds nearly absurd?

5. What did Pammy take Alma to on Mother's Day?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Alma feel about how her children turned out despite being such smart children?

2. What were Paul, Sr.'s vices?

3. Who is Pammy? Who is Alma? Why are they together at the start of "Mother's Day"?

4. What does Paulie recall from the night he hit his father in the groin for scaring him and his sister? What does Alma recall?

5. Who is Debi Hather? Where does Alma first see her in the story? How does Alma remember her?

6. How does Alma feel about Pammy pointing out the purple flowers to her on their walk? What is Pammy wearing and how does Alma feel about her outfit?

7. What did Alma do for her husband to entice him to stay home when he began staying out all night when the children were young?

8. Who is Paulie? Why is he not with Alma at the start of the story?

9. Who is Paul, Sr.? What did he do for work? Was he successful? How do you know?

10. What does Alma remember about the time she visited the zoo with Pammy and Paulie as children?

(see the answer keys)

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