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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Paulie try to give Alma and Paul, Sr. when they nearly lost their house?
(a) Several gold pieces.
(b) A cup of pennies.
(c) His life savings.
(d) A couple of crumpled dollar bills.

2. How does Alma feel about what her daughter tries to point out to her as the walk Pine Street at the start of the story?
(a) Apathetic.
(b) Excited.
(c) Impressed.
(d) Frightened.

3. What does Alma wish Pammy would have worn on their Mother's Day outing?
(a) A silk blouse and slacks.
(b) A nice dress or pants suit.
(c) Shorts and a tank top.
(d) Something more casual.

4. What does Pammy wear while out with her mother on Mother's Day?
(a) A torn sweater and ripped jeans.
(b) A very short dress.
(c) A t-shirt with a half-naked guy on it.
(d) A sweatshirt with a crossed-out machine gun on it.

5. What did Paul, Sr., once call Alma while he was drunk?
(a) Muffin.
(b) Peggy.
(c) Milly.
(d) Lolly.

6. Why did Alma begin wearing "the wildest underthings" (4) when her children were young?
(a) To entice Paul to stop seeing other women.
(b) To impress her boyfriend.
(c) She had started stripping to make extra money.
(d) Because Paul asked her to.

7. Why did Paulie miss the Mother's Day outing with Pammy and Alma?
(a) He slept in.
(b) He had the dates mixed up.
(c) He missed his flight.
(d) His flight was delayed.

8. Who is the author of "Mother's Day"?
(a) George Orwell.
(b) John Cheever.
(c) George Saunders.
(d) David Foster Wallace.

9. What does Alma recall about Debi's parents?
(a) They both had limps.
(b) They were hippies.
(c) They were dancers.
(d) They were deaf.

10. What does Pammy try to point out to her mother as they walk Pine Street at the start of the story?
(a) The nice houses.
(b) Purple flowers.
(c) The rain clouds.
(d) All the traffic.

11. What did Pammy take Alma to on Mother's Day?
(a) Lunch.
(b) The movies.
(c) A park.
(d) A hotel.

12. Where does Pammy work?
(a) No People Should Go Hungry.
(b) No Guns Necessary.
(c) No Animals Need Die.
(d) No Trees Need Die.

13. Where does Alma say she wants to go when Pammy suggests they walk up Pickle Street?
(a) Paul, Sr.'s grave.
(b) Dress shopping.
(c) To the movies.
(d) Out for lunch.

14. What does Alma recall Pammy doing once when Alma tried to adjust her collar when she was younger?
(a) Crying.
(b) Kissing her cheek.
(c) Holding her hand.
(d) Slapping her.

15. What did Pammy and Paulie witness one fourth of July when they were young and playing with sparklers?
(a) Paul, Sr. hit Alma.
(b) Their parents having sex.
(c) A car accident.
(d) Paul, Sr. having sex with another woman.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was Paul, Sr.'s occupation?

2. What is Pammy doing while they walk Pine Street, which Alma finds nearly absurd?

3. What instrument did Pammy play briefly when she was younger?

4. How does Alma remember Debi when they were in high school?

5. What does Alma recall doing when she had once found Paul, Sr. passed out on their porch?

(see the answer keys)

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