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

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

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

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

5. What does Alma recall doing when she had once found Paul, Sr. passed out on their porch?
(a) She poured cold water on his head.
(b) She kicked him.
(c) She called the cops on him.
(d) She helped him to bed.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Paulie claim his father did to him when he punched him in the groin when he was young?

2. How does Alma remember Debi when they were in high school?

3. What does Alma wish Pammy would have worn on their Mother's Day outing?

4. Who is Elieen who Alma recalls when thinking of Pammy and Paulie's younger days?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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