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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the reader know for sure Vonda has in her purse?
(a) Glitter.
(b) Nail polish.
(c) A cell phone.
(d) Shawn's father's book.

2. What does Shawn say interferes with his ability to secure a close, intimate relationship with a girl?
(a) Inability to control his involuntary muscles.
(b) Incontinence.
(c) Inability to control his voluntary muscles.
(d) Inability to communicate.

3. What are the two ruffians asking about for when they threaten Shawn?
(a) Cindy.
(b) Drugs.
(c) Money.
(d) The bus.

4. In the stanza of the poem that opens Chapter 10, what has become a "meringue of dust"?
(a) Feathers.
(b) Words.
(c) Concrete.
(d) Ideas.

5. What happens during the commercial after the interview of Earl Detraux on the Alice Ponds Show?
(a) Shawn has a seizure.
(b) The family room is silent.
(c) The electricity goes off.
(d) A bird files into the closed family room window.

6. What item is not in Shawn's father's bedroom?
(a) A photograph of Shawn.
(b) A poster from the science center.
(c) A photograph of Shawn's sister.
(d) A photograph of Shawn, his parents, and his siblings.

7. What happens to Shawn and his father after his father finishes speaking in Chapter 16?
(a) They breathe in unison.
(b) They lock eyes.
(c) Shawn's father releases their thumbs.
(d) Tears run down both of their cheeks.

8. Who gathers with Shawn to watch his father's episode of The Alice Ponds Show?
(a) Mom and Paul.
(b) Cindy and Paul.
(c) Lindy, Cindy, and Paul.
(d) The extended McDaniel family.

9. Why is Shawn glad that Ally leaves before he got up?
(a) So she will not see him eating breakfast.
(b) Because he knows that the sooner she leaves the sooner she will return.
(c) Because no guests means uninterrupted one-on-one time with his mother.
(d) So he can remember how she appears in his dream.

10. The peace usually lasts how long between Paul and his father?
(a) No more than a few months.
(b) No longer than spring training.
(c) No more than a few days.
(d) Until his father starts a new project.

11. Paul gets on the bus with his teammates to go to what destination?
(a) Walla Walla.
(b) Spokane.
(c) Redmond.
(d) Seattle.

12. According to the interview of Earl Detraux on the Alice Ponds Show, what is his quality of life like currently?
(a) His life is meaningless without his son.
(b) His life is somewhat like Scout camp.
(c) His life is in shambles because his wife left him.
(d) His life is fine as long as other people stay out of his way.

13. According to Shawn in Chapter 10, what does it mean when his mother sounds overly positive?
(a) She is trying to make the best of a situation.
(b) She is lying to her children.
(c) It's bad news.
(d) She is lying to herself.

14. In the dream in Chapter 14, where does Shawn hide?
(a) Behind the door.
(b) In the corner of the room.
(c) In the closet.
(d) Just outside in the hall.

15. In the interview when Alice Ponds mentions voluntary euthanasia, what is she implying?
(a) That children are not the same as adults.
(b) That her studio audience does not understand the topic.
(c) That Sydney is off-topic.
(d) That all types of euthanasia are the same.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Shawn do at the Pacific Science Center when he is eight?

2. In the stanza of the poem that opens Chapter 11, what is the overriding image or message?

3. According to Shawn, what is a fancy name for babysitting?

4. In the stanza of the poem that opens Chapter 12, who or what is dead?

5. In the chaos of packing to drive to Spokane, who tries to kiss Shawn's forehead?

(see the answer keys)

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