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

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

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

4. What kinds of books does the narrator say are kept in the basement of the library?
(a) Health.
(b) Dirty.
(c) Biology.
(d) Discarded.

5. How many rehearsals in total does Mother say will take place before the pageant performance?
(a) 10.
(b) 8.
(c) 5.
(d) 3.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What happens while the fire department is inside the church and the evacuated civilians are waiting outside?

3. What does Imogene NOT threaten to do to Alice if Alice tries to play the part of Mary?

4. Why do all of the shepherds get nervous when Mother mentions the Angel of the Lord?

5. Whom does the narrator name as the character who always plays the role of Joseph?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. What connections does the author draw between the Herdmans and the Holy Family?

5. How is irony used within the depiction of the cigar-smoking incident in the church restroom?

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

7. Discuss how Mother's character is depicted as having unending supplies of patience and compassion.

8. What does the library symbolize?

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

10. 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).

(see the answer keys)

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