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

2. 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 Elmer would do.
(d) To see what Charlie would do.

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

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

5. What method does Imogene tell Mother she can use to get a real baby to play Jesus?
(a) She can kidnap a baby.
(b) She can put an ad in the newspaper.
(c) She can ask her mother to have another baby.
(d) She can borrow her neighbor's baby.

Short Answer Questions

1. At what time of day does Mrs. Armstrong always call the narrator's mother to discuss the pageant?

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 does Imogene feel about Mother's announcement that the pageant will use a doll for the role of Jesus?

4. What does Alice do with the information she has about the Herdman siblings' involvement with the fire department being called to the church?

5. By the time all of the parts are assigned in the narrative, most of the actors have what last name?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the author's purpose for including Alice's character within the narrative.

2. In what ways does Mother display the qualities of fortitude and perseverance?

3. How does the narrator's interaction with the Herdmans change the narrator's perspective of the Christmas story?

4. Discuss a moment in the narrative when the narrator thinks that her friend Alice is behaving badly.

5. Discuss the significance of Mother's comment when she states to Father, "No, their chief instinct was to get Mary and the baby out of the barn. But even so, it was Herod they wanted to do away with, and Mary or Joseph. They picked out the right villain -- that must mean something" (50).

6. In what way does Reverend Hopkins redirect his congregation when he notices their treatment of the Herdman siblings?

7. What message is being sent about arrogance within Mother's exclamation when she shouts, "That woman! She must be surprised that the sun is still coming up every morning without her to supervise the sunrise" (45)?

8. For what reasons does the pageant not have a real baby to play Jesus?

9. How is foreshadowing employed within the last two sentences of Chapter Six?

10. In what ways does the author depict Father as a funny man?

(see the answer keys)

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