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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. As Palmer approaches his house, what is he worried about?

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

3. To what school do Beans and the gang bring Palmer?

4. What does Palmer hear that lets him know the visitors are gone?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What do the boys learn in wringer school? Who teaches the class? What does the teacher tell the boys is most important part of being a wringer?

5. Who does not attend Palmer's tenth birthday party and why? What do the boys want to talk to Mr. LaRue about? How does Mr. LaRue respond?

6. How does Palmer notice his father communicates with hum during Family Fest week? How does he describe this new communication?

7. When Dorothy realizes all of the things Palmer has done to keep Nipper from harm, she calls him a hero. Why does Dorothy think Palmer is a hero? Does he feel like a hero?

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

9. Palmer makes his plan to avoid confrontation with Beans and Mutto on the night of his birthday. What is his plan, and does it work?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What part does Nipper play in Palmer's life? How is this non-speaking character such a major influence in the novel? What does Nipper represent to Palmer?

Essay Topic 2

Dorothy is a main character running throughout the book. Discuss Palmer's different feelings about and reactions toward Dorothy and how they change throughout the story. How does he ultimately feel about their friendship?

Essay Topic 3

Compare Palmer's ninth birthday party and that of his tenth. What things are similar? What things are different? Does Palmer seem more or less mature on his tenth birthday? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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