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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Whom does the narrator name as the character who always plays the role of Mary?
(a) Gladys.
(b) Alice.
(c) Imogene.
(d) Herself.

2. What does the narrator mean when she says Mother told her "not to be so fresh" (26)?
(a) Mother told the narrator not be so quick to judge people.
(b) Mother told the narrator not to be so prim and proper.
(c) Mother told the narrator not to talk back.
(d) Mother told the narrator not to use so much hand soap.

3. The narrator states that "the Herdmans started out mean, right from" (59) what?
(a) Their first screams.
(b) The stroller.
(c) The cradle.
(d) Their first breaths.

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

5. What is NOT an element mentioned by the narrator as a quality the pageant Mary had always displayed?
(a) Dreamy.
(b) Ever-smiling.
(c) Otherworldly.
(d) Quiet.

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

7. To what historical person does the narrator allude when referring to the ludicrous nature of Mother's declaration about the coming Christmas pageant?
(a) General Custer.
(b) Amelia Earhart.
(c) Jacques Cousteau.
(d) Sitting Bull.

8. What does the narrator say about the number of people in town attending the pageant in question?
(a) Half the town attends.
(b) A bunch of people attend.
(c) Most of the town attends.
(d) Everyone attends.

9. What is the true source of the smoke that causes one of the women in the Ladies' Aid group to call the fire department?
(a) Ollie's chemistry set.
(b) Claude's cigarette.
(c) Gladys's pipe.
(d) Imogene's cigar.

10. What question does Imogene ask the narrator when the narrator says that to get a library card, you must sign your name?
(a) Imogene asks if you have to write your name in cursive.
(b) Imogene asks if you can sign using your nickname.
(c) Imogene asks if you have to sign your own name.
(d) Imogene asks if she has to sign both her first and last names.

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

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

13. What action eventually taken by a Herdman sibling is said by the narrator to be "the one great big sinful thing Alice" (66) had been hoping for?
(a) Ollie cheating on a test.
(b) Imogene smoking a cigar.
(c) Ralph setting off fireworks.
(d) Imogene burning down the church.

14. What does Alice do with the information she has about the Herdman siblings' involvement with the fire department being called to the church?
(a) She tells the narrator.
(b) She tells her mother.
(c) She tells Ralph.
(d) She tells Reverend Hopkins.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do all of the shepherds get nervous when Mother mentions the Angel of the Lord?

2. What kind of expression does Alice have on her face when she answers Mother's query about Alice's behavior during the assigning of pageant roles?

3. How often does Mrs. Armstrong call the narrator's mother from her hospital bed?

4. What reason does Charlie's friend Hobie say he cannot be a shepherd?

5. How much had the character who always played Joseph unsuccessfully offered another character to play the role of Joseph instead?

(see the answer keys)

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