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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Alice do with the information she has about the Herdman siblings' involvement with the fire department being called to the church?
(a) She tells her mother.
(b) She tells Reverend Hopkins.
(c) She tells Ralph.
(d) She tells the narrator.

2. How many rehearsals in total does Mother say will take place before the pageant performance?
(a) 3.
(b) 10.
(c) 8.
(d) 5.

3. What is NOT an act included on the pad of paper that lists the bad actions of the Herdman siblings during rehearsals?
(a) They smoke cigars in the bathroom.
(b) They steal Bibles.
(c) They drink communion wine.
(d) They steal crayons from the Sunday School cupboards.

4. What happens while the fire department is inside the church and the evacuated civilians are waiting outside?
(a) The church's pet rabbit runs into the road.
(b) A thunderstorm begins.
(c) The applesauce cake burns up.
(d) A taxi cab nearly runs over one of the church members.

5. In the pageant incarnation described at the center of the narrative, who plays the role of Joseph?
(a) Ralph.
(b) Elmer.
(c) Gladys.
(d) Leroy.

6. How often does Mrs. Armstrong call the narrator's mother from her hospital bed?
(a) Five times a day.
(b) Every day.
(c) Every other day.
(d) Twice a week.

7. Whom does the narrator name as the character who always plays the role of Joseph?
(a) Simon.
(b) Reverend Hopkins.
(c) Leroy.
(d) Elmer.

8. After completing research at the library, in what way do the Herdmans want to rewrite the pageant?
(a) They want to hang streamers for Jesus's birthday.
(b) They want to hang Herod at the end.
(c) They want to plan a trip to Bethlehem.
(d) They want the Wise Men to wear crowns.

9. Whom does the narrator name as the character who always plays the role of Mary?
(a) Herself.
(b) Alice.
(c) Gladys.
(d) Imogene.

10. How much had the character who always played Joseph unsuccessfully offered another character to play the role of Joseph instead?
(a) $5.
(b) $1.
(c) $10.
(d) 50 cents.

11. In the pageant incarnation described at the center of the narrative, who plays the role of the Angel of the Lord?
(a) Imogene.
(b) Gladys.
(c) The narrator.
(d) Alice.

12. What does the narrator finally decide when she is trying to figure out why someone would write down every bad action taken by the Herdman siblings?
(a) She thinks that it must feel good to Mother to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.
(b) She thinks that it must feel good to Mrs. Wendleken to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.
(c) She thinks that it must feel good to Gladys to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.
(d) She thinks that it must feel good to Alice to see evidence of the Herdman siblings' evil-doing in black-and-white.

13. With what role assignment does Mrs. Armstrong say she always begins the pageant preparations?
(a) Mary.
(b) The Angel of the Lord.
(c) The shepherds.
(d) Joseph.

14. Which of the Wise Men does Leroy play in the pageant?
(a) Balthazar.
(b) Abednigo.
(c) Caspar.
(d) Melchior.

15. What is Mrs. Armstrong's first name?
(a) Jennifer.
(b) Helen.
(c) Rachel.
(d) Deborah.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Imogene feel about Mother's announcement that the pageant will use a doll for the role of Jesus?

2. What is NOT a role assigned to the older boys and girls without major parts in the pageant?

3. What is the true source of the smoke that causes one of the women in the Ladies' Aid group to call the fire department?

4. What topic do the Herdman siblings research during their first visit to the library?

5. What does the narrator say about the number of people in town attending the pageant in question?

(see the answer keys)

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