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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. Why does Charlie enjoy going to the cemetery where his Aunt Helen is buried?
(a) His aunt's grave is beautifully decorated.
(b) He likes to see his relatives' graves.
(c) He can feel closer to his dad.
(d) He has fond memories of his aunt.

2. What does Charlie give Alice as her Secret Santa?
(a) A book by Anne Rice.
(b) A harmonica.
(c) A magnetic poetry set.
(d) Black nail polish.

3. How does Charlie cope with his emotions and memories?
(a) He goes to therapy.
(b) He avoids thinking about them.
(c) He writes letters to an anonymous friend.
(d) He talks to his friends about them.

4. What tradition does Charlie and his family follow every time they return home from a visit?
(a) Watching a movie.
(b) Visiting Aunt Helen's grave.
(c) Going out to eat.
(d) Baking cookies.

5. What is Charlie's reaction to his grandfather's emotional stories during a car ride?
(a) He falls asleep and ignores the stories.
(b) He feels uncomfortable and changes the topic.
(c) He sympathizes and listens attentively.
(d) He gets angry and starts arguing.

Short Answer Questions

1. How do Charlie and his mother show their affection for Aunt Helen at her grave?

2. What does Sam ask Charlie about his experiences?

3. What is Charlie's attitude toward using advanced vocabulary words?

4. What event occurs on December 24, 1983, that deeply affects Charlie?

5. How does Patrick describe Charlie's behavior at the party?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Charlie's reaction to seeing his brother on television.

2. Analyze Charlie's reaction to witnessing an intimate and uncomfortable moment at a party.

3. How does Patrick's relationship with Brad change over time, and what does it reveal about Brad's behavior?

4. Why does Charlie use generic names or changed names in his letters?

5. What role does Charlie's Aunt Helen play in his life?

6. How does Charlie describe the weather and his feelings on the day he did not mind going to school?

7. Explore the significance of Sam's gift to Charlie – the old typewriter and the request to write about him sometime. How does this gift reflect their bond and Charlie's evolving feelings for Sam?

8. What is the significance of Charlie's exchange with his grandfather after the Thanksgiving meal?

9. What does Mary Elizabeth tell Charlie about Zen, and how does he relate it to his own experiences?

10. How does Charlie view the concept of glory days and what does he associate with them?

(see the answer keys)

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