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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Alice's reply when Mother asks her the reason for her behavior during the choosing of parts?
(a) She says that her mother had wanted her to make a change.
(b) She says that she does not know.
(c) She says that Gladys had threatened her with violence.
(d) She says that she has stage fright.

2. What is Mrs. Armstrong's first name?
(a) Jennifer.
(b) Rachel.
(c) Helen.
(d) Deborah.

3. Who does NOT volunteer to be a Wise Man in the pageant in the year described by the narrator?
(a) Claude.
(b) Elmer.
(c) Leroy.
(d) Ollie.

4. What does the narrator say about the prediction that no would come to see the pageant?
(a) She says the person had been partially correct.
(b) She says the person had been wrong.
(c) She says that the person could not possibly believe their own luck.
(d) She says the person had been right.

5. What statement does Mother make that causes the narrator to describe her words as "the biggest" of "all the lies she'd told so far" (68)?
(a) She says that this year's Christmas pageant will be the best the church has ever seen.
(b) She says that Ralph will be the best Joseph the church has ever seen.
(c) She says that Imogene will be the best Mary the church has ever seen.
(d) She says that Gladys will be the best Angel of the Lord the church has ever seen.

6. What method does Imogene tell Mother she can use to get a real baby to play Jesus?
(a) She can borrow her neighbor's baby.
(b) She can put an ad in the newspaper.
(c) She can kidnap a baby.
(d) She can ask her mother to have another baby.

7. What happens while the fire department is inside the church and the evacuated civilians are waiting outside?
(a) The church's pet rabbit runs into the road.
(b) A taxi cab nearly runs over one of the church members.
(c) The applesauce cake burns up.
(d) A thunderstorm begins.

8. What object does Ollie have to have surgically removed from his ear?
(a) A sprouted pussy willow.
(b) A kidney bean.
(c) A kernel of corn.
(d) A vitamin pill.

9. When Mrs. McCarthy calls Mother, what does she suggest the Herdmans be allowed to do in lieu of taking roles within the pageant?
(a) Painting the church.
(b) Handing out programs.
(c) Directing traffic outside.
(d) Decorating the trees lining the church lot.

10. Mrs. Wendleken uses what adjective to describe Mother's decision to allow a Herdman to play the role of Mary?
(a) Sacrilegious.
(b) Heretical.
(c) Insane.
(d) Immoral.

11. What reason does Charlie's friend Hobie say he cannot be a shepherd?
(a) He says that he has to get his tonsils removed.
(b) He says that he is going to Australia.
(c) He says that he has to get his appendix removed.
(d) He says he is going to Philadelphia.

12. When the narrator states how she has always felt about Herod, what is something she does NOT say?
(a) Herod was a king.
(b) Herod was somebody in the Bible.
(c) Herod was a villain.
(d) Herod was just a name.

13. What do the Herdman siblings do once the fire department arrives at the church?
(a) They leave.
(b) They lie down in the street.
(c) They ask to help fight the fire.
(d) They throw spitballs at the evacuees.

14. How much had the character who always played Joseph unsuccessfully offered another character to play the role of Joseph instead?
(a) $10.
(b) $5.
(c) 50 cents.
(d) $1.

15. In the pageant incarnation described at the center of the narrative, who plays the role of the Angel of the Lord?
(a) Gladys.
(b) Imogene.
(c) Alice.
(d) The narrator.

Short Answer Questions

1. What topic do the Herdman siblings research during their first visit to the library?

2. How does Imogene feel about Mother's announcement that the pageant will use a doll for the role of Jesus?

3. With what role assignment does Mrs. Armstrong say she always begins the pageant preparations?

4. Which character voices the concern that no one may come to see the pageant?

5. What does Imogene NOT threaten to do to Alice if Alice tries to play the part of Mary?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 731 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample