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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. How often does Mrs. Armstrong call the narrator's mother from her hospital bed?
(a) Every day.
(b) Twice a week.
(c) Five times a day.
(d) Every other day.

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

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

4. What is NOT an act included on the pad of paper that lists the bad actions of the Herdman siblings during rehearsals?
(a) They smoke cigars in the bathroom.
(b) They steal crayons from the Sunday School cupboards.
(c) They steal Bibles.
(d) They drink communion wine.

5. 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) Alice.
(d) Gladys.

Short Answer Questions

1. When the narrator states how she has always felt about Herod, what is something she does NOT say?

2. What statement does Mother make that causes the narrator to describe her words as "the biggest" of "all the lies she'd told so far" (68)?

3. On what adjective do Mother and Father agree when describing Mary having to give birth to Jesus in a stable?

4. With what role assignment does Mrs. Armstrong say she always begins the pageant preparations?

5. To what historical person does the narrator allude when referring to the ludicrous nature of Mother's declaration about the coming Christmas pageant?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kinds of transgressions do the Herdman siblings commit throughout the course of the pageant rehearsal period and how does the narrator know about these actions?

2. What behaviors of the Herdman siblings indicate their keen interest in the subject of the Christmas story?

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

4. Discuss the significance of Mrs. Armstrong's comment to Mother when she says, "And then I always remind them that there are no small parts, only small actors" (25).

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

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

7. For what purpose does the author include an allusion to General Custer in the last section of Chapter Six?

8. How does the narrator portray her friend Alice's personification of Mrs. Armstrong's saying, "There are no parts, only small actors" (21)?

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

10. Discuss how the theme of appearance versus reality appears in Chapter Five.

(see the answer keys)

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