"The Man Who Loved Clowns" Chapters 1-8

Punky is Shirley's _____________________.

• brother

• uncle

• friend

• son

"Sorry, Punky," I said as I dragged the vacuum cleaner from the closet, "this room is a pigpen." "Okay, D.J." he replied, placing the clowns in his lunch box and heading for the back door with the lunch box and the radio.

Based on what you have learned about Punky, what can you conclude about why he goes outside when Delrita is about to vacuum?

• Punky leaves because he is afraid she will run over him.

• Punky leaves because he does not like things that make loud noises.

• Punky leaves because Marcus wants him to come outside and play.

• Punky leaves because his microphone is outside.

I thought about the last time our family went to see a Walt Disney movie. Punky had gnawed at his fingers until they were all slobbery, and he twisted his hair into wet spikes. Every few minutes, he'd clap his hands and say, "Look, D.J.!"

My face turned hot at the memory of everybody in the theater staring at us and mocking us.

This passage contains ______________.

• an idiom

• a flashback

• symbolism

• personification

Why does Tree end up riding in Delrita's car?

• He is tired from football practice and asks for a ride.

• Tree's mom arranged for him to ride home with Delrita.

• It is raining hard, and Delrita's mom offers him a ride.

• Punky wants him to ride because he things Tree looks like a clown.

There wasn't much furniture at all- just a dingy old chair, a couch hidden under a raggedy quilt, and a coffee table marred with burns and scratches.

What does this description of the Shackleford home reveal about Avanelle and her family?

• They just moved to Tangle Nook.

• They do not have a lot of money.

• They have lots of pets.

• They do not like furniture.

Why does Delrita hide in the back of her family car?

• She is embarrassed of Punky singing in church.

• She is embarrassed of Punky saying something to Mrs. Shackleford.

• She is embarrassed of Punky coloring during the sermon.

• She is hiding from Tree because she's too embarrassed to talk to him.

After I'd cleaned off the table, I took Punky's medicine down from the cupboard and stuffed it in my pocket. It was nitroglycerin, the same ingredient found in dynamite.

• will make him explode

• is very powerful

• is made of gun powder

• will make him hyper

Who calls Punky "Punk Man"?

• Aunt Queenie

• Uncle Bert

• Sam

• Shirley

I moved my carving things to the kitchen so I could keep an eye on the backyard. With the slightest twinge of jealousy, I listened to Marcus and Punky giggling and playing together in the dirt under the swing.

Why does Delrita feel jealous?

• She wants to play with Punky, but Punky wants to play with Marcus.

• She doesn't have any friends, and Punky is making one.

• She wishes she could play with Punky's clowns.

• She wants to be friends with Marcus' sister, Georgina.

Which of the following describes Delrita's main internal conflict at this point in the book?

• She is upset about not being invited to Cindi Martin's slumber party.

• She does not agree with Aunt Queenie's opinion that Punky should go to a workshop.

• She struggles with guilt because she is ashamed of Punky.

• She wants to be accepted by everyone at school.