The No-Talent Kid

Which of the following statements best sums up Plummer's talents?

• He has no musical or other talent.

• He is a brilliant student but a poor musician.

• He is hopeless musically but shrewd in business.

• He is a good student, a good planner, and a good clarinetist.

Plummer is a young student with

• Determination

• No plans or ambitions

• A serious interest in music

• A shy, gentle character

Why did Mr. Helmholtz's A Band lose the state championship?

• Another band played better.

• The winning band was much larger.

• Another band played, sang, and did acrobatics.

• The winning band had a huge drum.

Mr. Helmholtz has thought about ways to recapture the state championship. What has he decided to do?

• He will add ballet dancers.

• He will combine the A and B bands.

• Sleigh bells will be wired to each musician's hat.

• He has been unable to think of a winning idea.

After Plummer leaves his papers in Mr. Helmholtz's shrubbery, he

• Runs away in despair.

• Goes off to practice his clarinet.

• Sells his clarinet.

• Places an ad in the papers.

Why does Plummer buy the Knights of Kandahar drum?

• He is tired of his clarinet.

• He thinks it will get him into the A band.

• He feels sorry for Mr. Helmholtz.

• He wants to ruin Mr. Helmholtz's plans.

What condition does Plummer offer Mr. Helmholtz?

• Give me drumming lessons or not drum.

• No more than one year more in the B Band!

• No Plummer, no drum for the A Band.

• Pay plenty for it, or I'll keep the drum.

A happy solution is reached: A Band get the huge drum and Plummer gets to

• Play it as best he can.

• Pull in in parades.

• Be first chair in the B Band.

• Have a new clarinet.

"Plummer stroked the satin-black barrel of the instrument as though it were like King Arthur's sword, giving magical powers to whoever possessed it."

We may conclude that Plummer thinks his new clarinet

• Will make him famous.

• Makes everyone envious.

• Will help him play better.

• Will please Mr. Helmholtz.

"Plummer charitably waved him to silence. 'You don't have to explain to me, Mr. Helmholtz. With a job as big as you've got, it'd be a miracle if you did the whole thing right.'"

Plummer is implying that Mr. Helmholtz

• Makes no mistakes.

• Is always wrong.

• Lacks experience.

• Makes mistakes because the job is too big for him.