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

2. What does Alma recall about Debi's parents?
(a) They were hippies.
(b) They were deaf.
(c) They both had limps.
(d) They were dancers.

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

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) Frightened.
(b) Excited.
(c) Apathetic.
(d) Impressed.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. In addition to working "dumb jobs" (3) and never marrying, what are Pammy and Paulie always doing?

4. In what industry does Paulie work?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

7. 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?

8. 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?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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