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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kinds of books does the narrator say are kept in the basement of the library?
(a) Discarded.
(b) Dirty.
(c) Biology.
(d) Health.

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

3. When Mother is explaining the process of the pageant, what does the narrator think about how Mrs. Armstrong would feel about Mother's explanation?
(a) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be proud of how thorough Mother is being.
(b) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be angry about how much Mother is leaving out.
(c) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be jealous of Mother's success.
(d) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be surprised at how well-spoken Mother is.

4. Mrs. Armstrong tells Mother that she always reminds the pageant participants of what saying?
(a) It is better to be safe than sorry.
(b) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(c) A stitch in time saves nine.
(d) There are no small parts, only small actors.

5. Whose name does Mother NOT call when she is trying to make sure that no one else is interested in playing the role of Mary?
(a) Janet.
(b) Imogene.
(c) Roberta.
(d) Alice.

6. What reason does Mother finally give Mrs. Armstrong so that she can get off the phone and cook the pork chops?
(a) She says there is someone else on the other line.
(b) She says there is someone at the door.
(c) She says that she is tired of Mrs. Armstrong's calls at supper time.
(d) She says that her husband is hungry.

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

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

9. What does Mother tell Charlie when he says he does not want to be a shepherd and will become sick if she forces him?
(a) She tells Charlie not to be dramatic.
(b) She tells Charlie to mind his own business.
(c) She tells Charlie he will not get sick.
(d) She tells Charlie to adjust his attitude.

10. Why do all of the shepherds get nervous when Mother mentions the Angel of the Lord?
(a) They are scared of Gladys, the girl playing the Angel of the Lord.
(b) They are scared of Alice, the girl playing the Angel of the Lord.
(c) They are scared of Imogene, the girl playing the Angel of the Lord.
(d) They are scared of the narrator, the girl playing the Angel of the Lord.

11. At the end of Mother's story to Father about the first pageant rehearsal, what conclusion does she draw about the Herdman siblings?
(a) They have good instincts.
(b) They will surely ruin the pageant.
(c) They have dim futures.
(d) They are sincere in their interest in acting.

12. With what role assignment does Mrs. Armstrong say she always begins the pageant preparations?
(a) Mary.
(b) The shepherds.
(c) Joseph.
(d) The Angel of the Lord.

13. By the time all of the parts are assigned in the narrative, most of the actors have what last name?
(a) Herdman.
(b) Wendelken.
(c) Armstrong.
(d) Hopkins.

14. What does the narrator say about the Herdmans' attendance at the pageant rehearsals?
(a) They were always there and on time, but never on task.
(b) They only missed one rehearsal.
(c) They were always there, on time, and on task.
(d) They were always there, but always late.

15. Which character voices the concern that no one may come to see the pageant?
(a) Father.
(b) Reverend Hopkins.
(c) Charlie.
(d) Ralph.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mrs. Armstrong mean by the saying she always tells the pageant participants?

2. In the pageant incarnation described at the center of the narrative, who plays the role of Joseph?

3. What does the narrator mean when she says Mother told her "not to be so fresh" (26)?

4. Whom does the narrator name as the character who always plays the role of Mary?

5. What is the true source of the smoke that causes one of the women in the Ladies' Aid group to call the fire department?

(see the answer keys)

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