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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which character asks Mother if she thinks the church should call off the pageant?
(a) Ralph.
(b) Mrs. Wendleken.
(c) Reverend Hopkins.
(d) Father.

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

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

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

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

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) The narrator.
(c) Alice.
(d) Gladys.

7. What does Mrs. Armstrong mean by the saying she always tells the pageant participants?
(a) She means that thinking of what may go wrong in the pageant will help prevent disaster.
(b) She means that every role is important, no matter how small.
(c) She means that the short children need to be up front so everyone can see them.
(d) She means that learning lines is the first step to a good performance.

8. 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 he will not get sick.
(c) She tells Charlie to mind his own business.
(d) She tells Charlie to adjust his attitude.

9. 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 are sincere in their interest in acting.
(b) They will surely ruin the pageant.
(c) They have dim futures.
(d) They have good instincts.

10. 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) Ralph setting off fireworks.
(b) Ollie cheating on a test.
(c) Imogene smoking a cigar.
(d) Imogene burning down the church.

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

12. Mrs. Armstrong announces that however the pageant turns out, she will accept the what?
(a) Kudos.
(b) Consequences.
(c) The blame.
(d) The credit.

13. When the narrator describes how many people in town end up attending the pageant overall, for what purpose does she say those people attend?
(a) To see what Reverend Hopkins would do.
(b) To see what Elmer would do.
(c) To see what the Herdman siblings would do.
(d) To see what Charlie would do.

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

15. 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 he is going to Philadelphia.
(c) He says that he has to get his appendix removed.
(d) He says that he is going to Australia.

Short Answer Questions

1. The narrator proclaims that it does not seem right for Father to be on the same side as whom?

2. Mrs. Armstrong tells Mother that she must choose the person who plays Mary very carefully because of what reason?

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

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

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 745 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample