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

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 recall doing when she had once found Paul, Sr. passed out on their porch?
(a) She called the cops on him.
(b) She poured cold water on his head.
(c) She kicked him.
(d) She helped him to bed.

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

5. In addition to working "dumb jobs" (3) and never marrying, what are Pammy and Paulie always doing?
(a) Asking Alma for money.
(b) Going on fad diets.
(c) Moving from one apartment to another.
(d) Talking about their feelings.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Alma once do when Pammy and Paulie did not listen to her at the zoo?

2. What did Pammy take Alma to on Mother's Day?

3. Who is Elieen who Alma recalls when thinking of Pammy and Paulie's younger days?

4. What did Pammy and Paulie witness one fourth of July when they were young and playing with sparklers?

5. Why did Alma begin wearing "the wildest underthings" (4) when her children were young?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Debi Hather? Where does Alma first see her in the story? How does Alma remember her?

2. Who is Paul, Sr.? What did he do for work? Was he successful? How do you know?

3. Who is Pammy? Who is Alma? Why are they together at the start of "Mother's Day"?

4. How does Alma feel about how her children turned out despite being such smart children?

5. What did Alma do for her husband to entice him to stay home when he began staying out all night when the children were young?

6. What does Alma remember about the time she visited the zoo with Pammy and Paulie as children?

7. Who is Paulie? Why is he not with Alma at the start of the story?

8. What were Paul, Sr.'s vices?

9. What does Paulie recall from the night he hit his father in the groin for scaring him and his sister? What does Alma recall?

10. How does Alma feel about Pammy pointing out the purple flowers to her on their walk? What is Pammy wearing and how does Alma feel about her outfit?

(see the answer keys)

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