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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 Beans do when he sees a pigeon in the sky?
(a) Pulls out a bb gun and shoots at it.
(b) Chases after it to an alley.
(c) Pulls out a slingshot and shoots at it.
(d) Chases it and wrings its neck.

2. What does Beans tell the gang?
(a) He is ten and he is a wringer.
(b) He is ten and he is bad.
(c) He is ten and he is quitting school.
(d) He is ten and he is the leader.

3. How does Palmer decide to handle Saturday and the pigeon shoot?
(a) He runs away from home.
(b) He leaves with his family for the weekend.
(c) He pretends to be sick and stays home all day.
(d) He goes with Dorothy's family to the neighboring town to shop.

4. Where do the gang go after Beans has opened his presents?
(a) The playground to slide.
(b) The park to play soccer.
(c) Farquar's house for The Treatment.
(d) Palmer's house to play basketball.

5. How does Palmer feel running with the boys?
(a) Excited.
(b) Let down.
(c) Alone.
(d) Frightened.

Short Answer Questions

1. With what ritual do the boys in town associate Farquar?

2. Who do the boys see at the playground on Palmer's birthday?

3. Who is the one person who does not care about Palmer's bruised arm?

4. What name does Palmer give his pigeon?

5. What does Beans have in the frozen spaghetti and meatballs container in his freezer?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the boys find Farquar, he is on the soccer field and all but Palmer rush over to see him. Why does Palmer lag behind? What is he experiencing walking onto the field?

2. Palmer waits for Nipper to return in Chapter 22 and by nightfall Nipper has not done so. How does Palmer react to the pigeon's disappearance? How does his mood change when Nipper returns? What important decision does Palmer make when Nipper returns?

3. How does Palmer come up with the name for his pigeon? What do people feel about animals when they name them? How does Palmer feel about his pigeon?

4. When the gang attacks Dorothy with snow balls on the first day of school, Palmer joins in without hesitation. How does he rationalize his behavior toward her?

5. 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?

6. How does Palmer resolve his problems of meeting his friends at the cannon on the day of the pigeon shoot? Why? What do we learn about Palmer?

7. In Chapter Seven, how does Dorothy treat Palmer when he comes to show her his arm? How does he react?

8. Palmer finally becomes old enough to read the inscription on his father's trophy in the den. What did he pretend it said when he was younger? What does it really say? How does Palmer respond to learning what the words actually are?

9. Palmer begins to identify a certain smell associated with the pigeon shoot. Describe the smell and how it injects itself into Palmer's life.

10. Who does Palmer find in his room the night before the pigeon shoot? Why? What do we learn about Palmer?

(see the answer keys)

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