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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happened to Mrs. Mesinger after Richard Allen Mesinger's death?
(a) She went insane
(b) She moved to California
(c) She forgot about the "sweet" rifle in her attic
(d) The British soldiers hung her also

2. How many close friends does Richard Allen Mesington have during the first few years of his life?
(a) One
(b) Five
(c) None
(d) Dozens

3. According to the novel, why were all guns kept loaded prior to 1850?
(a) Because gun owners lacked common sense
(b) Because they took so long to load
(c) It was the law
(d) Because powder would spoil if not loaded immediately

4. The novel states that black powder has what chemical property?
(a) It will dissolve if it gets moist
(b) It is poisonous if ingested
(c) It is very corrosive
(d) It is extremely explosive

5. According to the novel, how fast is the rifle ball traveling when it hits Richard Allen Mesinger?
(a) About 20 miles per hour
(b) Mach 2
(c) 1,000 feet per second
(d) About 30 long paces

6. According to the novel, what is the muzzle velocity of a black powder rifle's projectile?
(a) The speed of light
(b) Mach 2
(c) 1,200 feet per second
(d) About 30 long paces

7. When Richard Allen Mesington is four years old, he has an exciting experience doing what?
(a) Shooting a rifle
(b) Riding on a backhoe while it works
(c) Riding in a mobile home
(d) Hunting with his father

8. According to the novel, why does the black powder in the "sweet" rifle remain explosive after hundreds of years?
(a) It was wrapped in a linen cartridge
(b) Grease used in loading formed an airtight seal
(c) The rifle's small caliber preserved the powder
(d) It was a modern type of powder

9. How quickly does Richard Allen Mesinger die after being shot?
(a) He dies instantly
(b) A few minutes after arriving at the hospital
(c) About five minutes
(d) After a few hours

10. After whom was Richard Allen Mesington named?
(a) A famous British officer of the American Revolutionary War
(b) A famous artist
(c) A well-known gunsmith
(d) His maternal grandfather

11. According to the novel, how old was Richard Allen Mesinger "supposed" to be when he died?
(a) 14
(b) 74
(c) Old enough to know not to play with guns
(d) 60

12. When was Richard Allen Mesington born?
(a) October 13, 1979
(b) July 4, 1776
(c) In early 1993
(d) The novel doesn't say

13. How old is Richard Allen Mesington when he stops believing in Santa Claus?
(a) Sixteen years old
(b) Six years old
(c) He never believes in Santa Claus because of his father's early death
(d) Two years old

14. What was Richard Allen Mesington's first pet dog named?
(a) Sissy
(b) Peggy
(c) Bughoe
(d) Sarah

15. How long does Sissy live?
(a) About six years after Richard Allen Mesington is born
(b) She's killed by a car when she's just a puppy
(c) Four years
(d) At least fifteen years

Short Answer Questions

1. Richard Allen Mesington dreams of owing what kind of vehicle?

2. When the Mesington family moves away from Willow, Colorado, what state do they move to?

3. When he is an infant, how does Richard Allen Mesington get Sissy to stop walking?

4. At the novel's conclusion, who is the owner of the "sweet" rifle?

5. According to the novel, how fast does a black powder charge burn?

(see the answer keys)

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