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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 Palmer know he should wish but cannot?
(a) That Nipper would go to a pigeon-friendlier town.
(b) That Nipper should only fly at night.
(c) That Nipper would find a friend.
(d) That Nipper would move to Dorothy's house.

2. How many pigeons are gathered for the pigeon shoot, according to Palmer's dad?
(a) Five thousand.
(b) Eight hundred.
(c) Five hundred.
(d) One thousand.

3. How does Palmer react to Bean's accusation?
(a) He admits to liking Dorothy.
(b) He stomps on and smashes a soda can.
(c) He admits to having a pet pigeon.
(d) He walks away form the gang.

4. Why does Palmer run home and leave the boys behind in Chapter 12?
(a) The gang begins to break open a crate of pigeons to harm them.
(b) The gang teases him about not wringing a pigeon's neck.
(c) He is afraid of the dark.
(d) The gang begins to steal food from the closed concession stand.

5. Who is the one person who does not care about Palmer's bruised arm?
(a) Nipper.
(b) Beans.
(c) Dorothy.
(d) Palmer's mother.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Palmer's dream, what does a pigeon's eye look like?

2. What does Beans do with the contents of the spaghetti and meatballs container from the freezer?

3. How many different colors does Palmer count on the pigeon while the bird eats?

4. How does Palmer describe the weeks following his birthday?

5. Who does Palmer decide to tell about his pet Nipper?

Short Essay Questions

1. What chores does Palmer offer to do for himself? Why does he offer to take care of his own room?

2. When Palmer opens the door on his birthday and finds Beans, Mutto and Henry there, he is elated. Why? Who are these boys? What do they represent in Palmer's life?

3. What does Beans pull out of the freezer when the gang is at his house? What does he do with it? The author does not tell us how Palmer feels about what Beans has done. Based on what you know of Palmer, how does he feel about the prank?

4. Palmer comes home after the boys see a pigeon flying overhead and he cries. Why is he crying? What does he admit about his day?

5. How do Palmer's parents react to The Treatment?

6. In Chapter 15, Palmer goes through a series of emotional reactions to the pigeon tapping on his window. What are some of those reactions?

7. Palmer describes the wish he should make after Nipper has been seen in the sky by the gang. What is that wish? Why can't he make that wish?

8. In Chapter 25, Palmer has a wonderful day in which he is relaxed and happy. The day dissolves into emotional distress. What happens to make Palmer nervous and upset? What two parts of Palmer's personality come into conflict?

9. When Beans has his tenth birthday party, he invites the gang to his house and then leaves with them to find Farquar. Again, The Treatment is part of the story. How does Beans anticipate The Treatment and his birthday in general? How is Beans' reaction different from that of Palmer?

10. For his birthday, Palmer gets an old apple core, an old sock, and a cigar butt from his new friends. What makes these gifts special? How does Palmer react to his mother's gifts?

(see the answer keys)

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