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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 do the Herdman siblings do once the fire department arrives at the church?
(a) They ask to help fight the fire.
(b) They lie down in the street.
(c) They leave.
(d) They throw spitballs at the evacuees.

2. Mrs. Armstrong tells Mother that she always reminds the pageant participants of what saying?
(a) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
(b) There are no small parts, only small actors.
(c) A stitch in time saves nine.
(d) It is better to be safe than sorry.

3. What action eventually taken by a Herdman sibling is said by the narrator to be "the one great big sinful thing Alice" (66) had been hoping for?
(a) Ralph setting off fireworks.
(b) Imogene burning down the church.
(c) Ollie cheating on a test.
(d) Imogene smoking a cigar.

4. The pageant's dress rehearsal takes place the night before what other event?
(a) The opening night of the pageant.
(b) The pot-luck dinner.
(c) The rummage sale.
(d) The bake sale.

5. What is NOT a role assigned to the older boys and girls without major parts in the pageant?
(a) Ushers.
(b) Guests at the inn.
(c) Members of the angel choir.
(d) Shepherds.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mother tell Charlie when he says he does not want to be a shepherd and will become sick if she forces him?

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

3. After completing research at the library, in what way do the Herdmans want to rewrite the pageant?

4. Mrs. Armstrong tells Mother that she must choose the person who plays Mary very carefully because of what reason?

5. When Mother is explaining the process of the pageant, what does the narrator think about how Mrs. Armstrong would feel about Mother's explanation?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

7. What questions are raised in the narrator's mind about the Nativity story as a result of her interactions with the Herdmans?

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

9. What does the library symbolize?

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

(see the answer keys)

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