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

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

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

4. 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?
(a) Impressed.
(b) Frightened.
(c) Apathetic.
(d) Excited.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Alma recall doing when she had once found Paul, Sr. passed out on their porch?

2. What did Pammy and Paulie witness one fourth of July when they were young and playing with sparklers?

3. Why did Alma begin wearing "the wildest underthings" (4) when her children were young?

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

5. What does Alma think the place Pammy works smells like?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

9. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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