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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 imagine the gang is doing while he is hiding from them?
(a) Telling people Palmer was too chicken to get The Treatment and ran away.
(b) Asking people about him and telling people he has a pigeon for a pet.
(c) Telling people he stole from the grocery store and they are looking for him.
(d) Asking people if they have seen him and if so to call the police.

2. When Dorothy tells him he is famous, how does Palmer respond?
(a) He does not like people talking about him behind his back.
(b) He does not want to be famous, he wants to be infamous.
(c) He likes being famous and wants to be known as a clown.
(d) He does not want to be famous, he wants to be invisible.

3. Where does Palmer end up going on Saturday morning?
(a) He goes to the mall.
(b) He goes to Dorothy's house.
(c) He goes to the pigeon shoot.
(d) He goes to his cousin's house.

4. What does Dorothy do on Palmer's birthday?
(a) She brings him a huge present.
(b) She calls him that night.
(c) She gives him a kiss.
(d) She comes to his party.

5. Why can't Palmer ask the gang over to see for themselves that the pigeon is gone?
(a) His mother will never allow them in the house again.
(b) There is still cereal and other foods in the closet.
(c) There is still pigeon poop all over the floors and bookshelves.
(d) His mother keeps the door to his room locked now.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Palmer do right before getting The Treatment?

2. What does Palmer decide the message on his cake means?

3. Why does Dorothy begin laughing when Palmer is talking seriously about Nipper's possible fate?

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

5. What are the sacrifices Palmer sees he has made in order to save Nipper?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 32, Beans and the gang take Palmer to find Farquar for his birthday Treatment. When Beans demands that Farquar give Palmer the Treatment, he is faced with a bully bigger than himself. How does Beans respond to Farquar? How does Palmer?

2. 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?

3. Palmer explains to Dorothy that he is conflicted about school ending. What is the conflict he feels? At the end of the chapter, the narrator says "But another school was about to begin." Can you guess what this school is, and why it is beginning?

4. 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?

5. What does Palmer find when her gets home to his room, and what does he decide at that moment?

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

7. After refusing The Treatment and leaving the gang, Palmer again places Nipper's needs above his. What does he decide to do next?

8. How does Palmer attempt to trick Nipper into not finding him again when he is with his friends? Describe his solution. Does it seem like this would work?

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

10. What does Palmer find written on the icing of his cake later in the evening of his birthday? Who does he believe wrote it? What does he think it means?

(see the answer keys)

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