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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the narrator's memorable prom night end?

2. The night of his first date with the neighbor girl, how long does it take the narrator to bathe and groom?

3. In what major way did Maxwell Bigelow help the community?

4. Why did Howie quit high school?

5. Where does the new family next door to the Shepherds move from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conflict exists for the narrator regarding the night of the party that he's invited to by Josephine?

2. How does the narrator get his fire chief hat back?

3. Describe the narrator's experience as he waits for Josephine to finish getting ready for their date.

4. What is the Wimpy Doll?

5. How does the narrator ask Wanda Hickey to the prom?

6. How does the narrator's family react when he says that he's asked Daphne Bigelow out on a date?

7. Describe some of the pre-prom rituals.

8. How does the narrator prepare for his date with Josephine?

9. Where does the narrator live when he is an adult?

10. Why does the narrator grow more and more uncomfortable at the party with Josephine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A day at the County Fair turns into another opportunity for the author to showcase the Shepherds' eccentricities. Describe the fair experience from the viewpoint of each family member -- Mother, Randy, the Old Man, and the narrator. Who seems to enjoy the fair the most, and why? Use examples to support your conclusion.

Essay Topic 2

The Old Man is a study in contrasts. One minute he's cursing and complaining, the next he's laughing and joking about a challenge he just went through. Using examples from the book, create a description of the Old Man that shows him as a man of contrasts and mixed messages. How do his sons handle a father as unpredictable as theirs?

Essay Topic 3

As a young person, the narrator spends a great deal of time living in his world of daydreams and imagination. How does the reality of his life compare to the world of his imagination? How do his daydreams serve him when reality is full of disappointments?

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