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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. When Mother is explaining the process of the pageant, what does the narrator think about how Mrs. Armstrong would feel about Mother's explanation?
(a) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be angry about how much Mother is leaving out.
(b) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be jealous of Mother's success.
(c) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be proud of how thorough Mother is being.
(d) She thinks Mrs. Armstrong would be surprised at how well-spoken Mother is.

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 drink communion wine.
(b) They steal crayons from the Sunday School cupboards.
(c) They smoke cigars in the bathroom.
(d) They steal Bibles.

3. Which character asks Mother if she thinks the church should call off the pageant?
(a) Reverend Hopkins.
(b) Ralph.
(c) Father.
(d) Mrs. Wendleken.

4. How does Mother feel about Mrs. Armstrong's announcement that she does not know how the pageant will turn out?
(a) Regretful.
(b) Frightened.
(c) Ashamed.
(d) Angry.

5. In the pageant incarnation described at the center of the narrative, who plays the role of Mary?
(a) The narrator.
(b) Imogene.
(c) Gladys.
(d) Alice.

Short Answer Questions

1. Mrs. Wendleken uses what adjective to describe Mother's decision to allow a Herdman to play the role of Mary?

2. Which of the Wise Men does Leroy play in the pageant?

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

4. Who begins to write down on a pad of paper every bad action taken by the Herdman siblings during the pageant rehearsals?

5. What does the narrator say about the number of people in town attending the pageant in question?

Short Essay Questions

1. What evidence does the author provide for the conclusion that having the first meeting about the pageant after church is a poor decision?

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

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

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

5. 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).

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

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

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

9. 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)?

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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