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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. What does the narrator mean when she says Mother told her "not to be so fresh" (26)?
(a) Mother told the narrator not to talk back.
(b) Mother told the narrator not to use so much hand soap.
(c) Mother told the narrator not to be so prim and proper.
(d) Mother told the narrator not be so quick to judge people.

2. What does the narrator say about the number of people in town attending the pageant in question?
(a) Most of the town attends.
(b) Everyone attends.
(c) Half the town attends.
(d) A bunch of people attend.

3. What reason does Charlie's friend Hobie say he cannot be a shepherd?
(a) He says that he is going to Australia.
(b) He says he is going to Philadelphia.
(c) He says that he has to get his appendix removed.
(d) He says that he has to get his tonsils removed.

4. In what location does Imogene ask the narrator how to check out a book from the library?
(a) The playground.
(b) The gym.
(c) The library.
(d) The classroom.

5. When Mrs. McCarthy calls Mother, what does she suggest the Herdmans be allowed to do in lieu of taking roles within the pageant?
(a) Decorating the trees lining the church lot.
(b) Directing traffic outside.
(c) Handing out programs.
(d) Painting the church.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Whom does the narrator name as the character who always plays the role of Mary?

3. 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?

4. What do the Herdman siblings do once the fire department arrives at the church?

5. What method does Imogene tell Mother she can use to get a real baby to play Jesus?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What does the narrator understand about the Herdman siblings that Alice does not?

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

9. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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