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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. At what point does the narrator realize they are halfway to their Michigan destination?
(a) When Randy throws up, because he does this every year at the halfway mark.
(b) When the contents of the car have shifted so much he can no longer move.
(c) After he almost faints from dehydration and heat exhaustion.
(d) After they've been driving for six hours without stopping.

2. Who is Iron Man Gabruzzi's arch-rival?
(a) Duke Grunion.
(b) Anthony Dombruni.
(c) Walt Whedbe.
(d) Joe Firebender.

3. When the narrator starts spinning tops against Farkas, what does he use first?
(a) His best top.
(b) Schwartz's champion top.
(c) An old, chipped top.
(d) A dummy top.

4. What does Farkas mean when he challenges the narrator to play for keeps?
(a) Whoever wins gets to take and keep the opponent's top.
(b) Winner keeps the tops; the loser keeps away from the playground.
(c) Both tops are released into a circle, and the first one to leave the circle loses.
(d) Whoever loses the next round is never allowed to spin tops on the playground again.

5. Halfway along the journey to Michigan, what does the narrator realize he forgot to pack?
(a) Fishing gear.
(b) Alarm clock.
(c) Comic book collection.
(d) Camera.

Short Answer Questions

1. At their Michigan destination, what does the narrator say when the Old Man starts talking about going fishing?

2. What person does the forty-seven pound pumpkin at the County Fair resemble?

3. The Taylors, who lived next door to the narrator and his family for many years before the Bumpus family moved in, were what?

4. Who goes on the Old Man's favorite ride at the County Fair?

5. Who is Scut Farkas?

Short Essay Questions

1. During their road trip, the narrator is convinced that he left his fishing gear back home. What does he discover about his gear at the end of the story?

2. Describe the sense of anticipation the Shepherd family members feel as they prepare to experience the County Fair. What is each family member looking forward to the most?

3. What happens after the narrator uses a dummy top and lets Farkas win the first round?

4. Describe some of what makes the Shepherd family a traditional one.

5. Which member of the narrator's family seems to be the most excited at the County Fair?

6. Describe the conditions inside the car during the drive to Clear Lake, Michigan.

7. What is the final outcome of the battle of the spinning tops between Scut Farkas and the narrator?

8. What happens when Randy, the Old Man, and the narrator ride the Whirligig Rocket Whip?

9. How does Delbert Bumpus disrupt life at school?

10. Summarize how Mother prepares the traditional Easter ham.

(see the answer keys)

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