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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. Palmer tells Dorothy there are two things they need to do so that Nipper will not come back. What are they?

2. What has Dorothy written on Palmer's nerf ball?

3. Why is Palmer feeling so badly on his birthday?

4. How do many of the pigeons come out of the boxes for the shoot?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. How do Dorothy and Palmer finally get Nipper safely out of town and away from danger? How does their behavior then represent their mood?

3. 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?

4. How does Palmer react when his mother tells he she and his father have known about Nipper for months?

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

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

7. Why does Palmer choose Henry to invite up to his room to prove Nipper is no longer there? What happens between them when Henry is in Palmer's room?

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

9. When Palmer refuses The Treatment from Farquar, what does he tell Beans when he is screaming at him? Why does he run from the gang then? What does Beans yell to Palmer as he is running away?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Beans is depicted as a mean boy and a bully. He is also responsible for the death of animals. How is Mutto depicted? How is Henry depicted? Why are these three in a gang together?

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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