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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. What does Palmer begin to smell on his father when he sits in his dad's lap after the pigeon shoot?

2. Why does Nipper fly around the house once or twice before flying away in the morning?

3. How does Palmer's dad respond when Palmer asks him if he was a wringer?

4. How does Palmer react to Bean's accusation?

5. What does Palmer declare in front of the gang?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Palmer returns from Beans' birthday party he finds Dorothy waiting in his room. She sarcastically calls him Snots and talks about his gang. What does she say, and what does she really mean?

2. 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?

3. How does Palmer react when the gang tell him they believe he has a pigeon for a pet? What does Palmer want the gang to believe and why?

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

5. What is The Treatment? What does it mean to Palmer to receive The Treatment? What does Palmer get after getting through The Treatment?

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

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

8. 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?

9. What are some of Palmer's memories of his first pigeon shoot? What does this tell us about Palmer?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Palmer's father catches the fly ball at the ballgame and gives it to Palmer, the narrator says Palmer held the ball on the way home and "imagined he felt a heartbeat." What does the narrator mean by this statement?

Essay Topic 2

Palmer notices that after letting Nipper leave, he is less anxious and tense. However, he also realizes the price he has paid for that relief. Discuss the price Palmer feels he has paid by letting Nipper leave.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Palmer's relationship with Dorothy and his relationship with the gang. How do the two (Dorothy and the gang) help Palmer to feel important? How do the two bring out the different sides of Palmer?

(see the answer keys)

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