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

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

4. 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 the Herdman siblings would do.
(b) To see what Reverend Hopkins would do.
(c) To see what Charlie would do.
(d) To see what Elmer would do.

5. What is Mother's reply when she is asked what the Angel of the Lord is supposed to do?
(a) She says that the Angel of the Lord is lowered slowly from the ceiling.
(b) She says that the Angel of the Lord is there to reflect the lights with her sequined costume.
(c) She says that the Angel of the Lord had brought the good news to the shepherds.
(d) She says that the Angel of the Lord had warned the shepherds about Herod's treachery.

6. Who begins to write down on a pad of paper every bad action taken by the Herdman siblings during the pageant rehearsals?
(a) Mother.
(b) Mrs. Wendleken.
(c) Gladys.
(d) Alice.

7. On what adjective do Mother and Father agree when describing Mary having to give birth to Jesus in a stable?
(a) Awe-inspiring.
(b) Disgraceful.
(c) Humble.
(d) Sad.

8. What element does the narrator name as keeping people from getting into the library basement undetected?
(a) The treacherous stairs.
(b) A locked door.
(c) A noisy chain.
(d) A sign-in sheet.

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

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

11. What is NOT a role assigned to the older boys and girls without major parts in the pageant?
(a) Guests at the inn.
(b) Shepherds.
(c) Members of the angel choir.
(d) Ushers.

12. What does the narrator finally decide when she is trying to figure out why someone would write down every bad action taken by the Herdman siblings?
(a) She thinks that it must feel good to Mother to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.
(b) She thinks that it must feel good to Gladys to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.
(c) She thinks that it must feel good to Alice to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.
(d) She thinks that it must feel good to Mrs. Wendleken to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.

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

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

15. 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) Roberta.
(b) Alice.
(c) Imogene.
(d) Janet.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What object does Ollie have to have surgically removed from his ear?

3. What question does Imogene ask the narrator when the narrator says that to get a library card, you must sign your name?

4. What does Mother tell Charlie when he says he does not want to be a shepherd and will become sick if she forces him?

5. In the pageant incarnation described at the center of the narrative, who plays the role of the Angel of the Lord?

(see the answer keys)

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