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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Palmer give Beans for his birthday?

2. How does Palmer react to Bean's accusation?

3. With what ritual do the boys in town associate Farquar?

4. Before going to sleep, what does Palmer do with his flashlight?

5. What special food does Palmer get for his pigeon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What chores does Palmer offer to do for himself? Why does he offer to take care of his own room?

2. In Chapter Seven, how does Dorothy treat Palmer when he comes to show her his arm? How does he react?

3. In Chapter 25, Palmer has a wonderful day in which he is relaxed and happy. The day dissolves into emotional distress. What happens to make Palmer nervous and upset? What two parts of Palmer's personality come into conflict?

4. How does Palmer come up with the name for his pigeon? What do people feel about animals when they name them? How does Palmer feel about his pigeon?

5. When Palmer returns from Beans' birthday party he finds Dorothy waiting in his room. She sarcastically calls him Snots and talks about his gang. What does she say, and what does she really mean?

6. Palmer comes home after the boys see a pigeon flying overhead and he cries. Why is he crying? What does he admit about his day?

7. Once he has decided to name and keep Nipper, Palmer realizes he must divert the gang from coming to his house. Why does he want to keep the boys away? What are some of the excuses he invents?

8. How does Palmer resolve his problems of meeting his friends at the cannon on the day of the pigeon shoot? Why? What do we learn about Palmer?

9. When the gang attacks Dorothy with snow balls on the first day of school, Palmer joins in without hesitation. How does he rationalize his behavior toward her?

10. When Beans has his tenth birthday party, he invites the gang to his house and then leaves with them to find Farquar. Again, The Treatment is part of the story. How does Beans anticipate The Treatment and his birthday in general? How is Beans' reaction different from that of Palmer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dorothy tells Palmer to simply tell everyone he does not want to be a wringer. Palmer believes this to be impossible to do. What does he explain to Dorothy about admitting he does not want to be a wringer? What are the consequences, and for who?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 32, Palmer makes an important observation about Henry. What is the observation, and how does it affect Palmer's behavior? Do you think Palmer's observation is correct?

Essay Topic 3

When Palmer goes over to Beans' house and meets his mother, he is surprised. Discuss what the house looks like, what Beans' mother is like, and why it is a surprise to Palmer.

(see the answer keys)

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