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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To what day does the narrator look forward in order to get a break from the Herdmans?
(a) Saturdays.
(b) Mondays.
(c) Fridays.
(d) Sundays.

2. The smallest children in Sunday School class usually sing what song when attending church services?
(a) Jesus Loves Me.
(b) Awesome God.
(c) Lamb of God.
(d) Ave Maria.

3. In the annual Christmas pageant, children classified as the biggest boys have traditionally taken which roles?
(a) Shepherds.
(b) Donkeys.
(c) Angels.
(d) Wise Men.

4. Prior to Imogene's announcement about the note she has seen about Albert in the nurse's book, how does Albert think he will spend the following summer?
(a) Spending the summer making up work in summer school.
(b) Spending the summer working as a lifeguard at the water park.
(c) Spending the summer at horse camp.
(d) Spending the summer with his Uncle Frank and going to Disneyland.

5. What symptom does Imogene tell the school nurse her brother Ollie has been displaying?
(a) Red spots all over his body.
(b) Flaky skin all over his body.
(c) Blindness.
(d) Black bruises all over his body.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the sign in the Herdmans' yard say?

2. How far away from the narrator's home does the usual pageant coordinator live?

3. The narrator states that all of the teachers at school claim that what element is "supposed to be a big secret" (9) in addition to one's weight?

4. The narrator begins the novel by declaring that "the Herdmans were absolutely the" what "kids in the history of the world" (1)?

5. What is the single thing Mother names as the only worry someone has when planning the task she says she could complete one-handed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to create several open jobs within the church during the holiday season and which jobs become vacant?

2. For what reason do the Herdman siblings believe they have found evidence proving Charlie's promises of food at church to be valid?

3. How does the author go about portraying the Herdmans as unteachable?

4. Discuss the author's use of vivid imagery within the scene of the Herdmans' first time at Sunday school.

5. How does Mother come to be in charge of coordinating the pageant, rather than taking on some other role?

6. What is the narrator's evidence for her claim that the "Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the the history of the world" (1)?

7. What is the symbolism of the Beware of Cat sign in the Herdmans' front yard?

8. Describe one particular instance of the author's use of humor and examine its effect on the reader.

9. How does Mother at first feel about coordinating the Christmas pageant?

10. What does Father say about the burning down of Fred Schneider's toolhouse?

(see the answer keys)

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