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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. How does the narrator describe Palmer's loneliness after Nipper is gone?
(a) Palmer is as "lonely as an umbrella in sunshine."
(b) Palmer is as "empty as a spent bullet cartridge."
(c) Palmer is as "confused as a rabbit with a blindfold."
(d) Palmer is as "empty as the cicada husks on the trees."

2. Why does Palmer cover himself up to go to school the day after Nipper lands on his head in front of the gang?
(a) He wants to get in trouble with the gang.
(b) He wants to get laughs at school.
(c) He hopes not to catch a cold.
(d) He hopes Nipper will not recognize him.

3. Who comes to see Palmer's room and check that there is no pigeon in the room?
(a) Beans.
(b) Bill.
(c) Mutto.
(d) Henry.

4. At the end of the day, why does Palmer feel he can smile?
(a) Because he has finished this school year and kept Nipper hidden.
(b) Because he has successfuly fooled his teacher.
(c) Because he is going to a new school in the fall.
(d) Because the day is over.

5. What does Palmer's mother tell him she has seen on the stairway of the house?
(a) A yellow cat.
(b) A brown dog.
(c) A grey pigeon.
(d) A black cat.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Palmer come to realize about releasing Nipper?

2. What is the magic word according to the teacher of the class?

3. Who brings Nipper into the meadow and then into the woods?

4. What does Dorothy do on Palmer's birthday?

5. As Palmer walks away, Nipper in his hands, what does he hear a small child say?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Palmer begin to question his real reasons for sending Nipper away? What does he come to understand?

2. What other issue between Dorothy and Palmer comes up in Chapter 29? How does Palmer feel about the situation? How does he resolve it?

3. What does Dorothy tell Palmer at the shoot that upsets him? How does he treat Dorothy? How does she respond?

4. Palmer is not excited on his birthday, not thrilled with presents or the presence of his friends. Many things hang heavy in his mind. What are some of the things that are troubling Palmer on his tenth birthday?

5. When the gang finds out from Palmer what he did in school to deserve an after-school punishment, how do they react? How does Palmer feel? What else does he do in order to stay in school a little longer?

6. What curious thing does Palmer notice at the Titans baseball game? What does it remind him of?

7. Palmer knows a lot about pigeons. What kinds of things does he know about releasing a pigeon so the bird will not be able to return home? How does he use this information with Nipper?

8. When the boys line up to practice wringing a pigeon's neck, Palmer lines up with them. What is this experience like for Palmer?

9. What kinds of harassment do Beans and the gang inflict on Palmer after he has walked away from the gang? Why?

10. When Palmer attends the pigeon shoot this year, what does he come to realize about his memories of shoots from years passed?

(see the answer keys)

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