Misfit Quiz: 20 Questions on Gary Gulman's Memoir
Quiz Questions 20 questions covering the full arc of Gary Gulman's memoir, from kindergarten to his recovery in 2023. Questions mix multiple-choice and short-answer formats, and the answer key explains each response with evidence from the book. Use the chapter summaries if you need a refresher before you begin.
Plot and Sequence (Questions 1–8)
1. (Multiple choice) In what order do these events occur in Gary's childhood?
A) He learns to read, repeats first grade, starts Hebrew school, meets Kristel
B) He repeats first grade, learns to read, starts Hebrew school, meets Kristel
C) He learns to read, starts Hebrew school, repeats first grade, meets Kristel
D) He repeats first grade, starts Hebrew school, learns to read, meets Kristel
2. (Multiple choice) What triggers Gary's decision to focus seriously on basketball?
A) His father's encouragement
B) A conduct warning for insensitive remarks
C) Losing a sandcastle contest
D) Watching the Celtics on TV
3. (Short answer) What event causes Gary to be benched in his varsity basketball season opener?
4. (Multiple choice) Which of these is the correct sequence of Gary's close friendships?
A) Wally, Billy, Chris, Kristel
B) Billy, Wally, Chris, Kristel
C) Wally, Chris, Billy, Kristel
D) Chris, Wally, Billy, Kristel
5. (Short answer) What does Gary do with the pink pig stuffed animal he receives from Mrs. Rand?
6. (Multiple choice) In which grade does Gary first encounter the Jetsyns?
A) Ninth
B) Tenth
C) Eleventh
D) Twelfth
7. (Short answer) What is the name of the teacher who humiliates Gary over his handwriting and holds a class vote?
8. (Multiple choice) What happens to Gary's fish tank?
A) The fish die from cold water
B) The fish die from overheated water
C) The fish are stolen
D) The fish are given away
Character Motivation (Questions 9–13)
9. (Multiple choice) Why does Gary break Luke Arcuri's lunch box handle?
A) He is angry at Luke
B) He is jealous
C) He wants to impress Suzanne
D) He is bored
10. (Short answer) Why does Gary falsely claim he can speak French during show-and-tell?
11. (Multiple choice) What motivates Gary's father to follow the station wagon home?
A) He wants to confront the driver
B) He is lost
C) He wants to meet Wally's parents
D) He is angry about the finger
12. (Short answer) Why does Gary decide to pursue comedy after basketball?
13. (Multiple choice) What is the primary reason Gary avoids Kristel after their breakup?
A) He is angry at her
B) He is heartbroken and uses avoidance as coping
C) He is busy with football
D) He moves away
Theme and Symbol (Questions 14–17)
14. (Multiple choice) What does the green light symbolize in the book?
A) Hope for the future
B) The past that haunts us
C) The pursuit of external validation
D) The love of his life
15. (Short answer) What does “Get out of the boat” mean in the context of the book?
16. (Multiple choice) Which of these is a recurring theme in the memoir?
A) The importance of wealth
B) The power of friendship
C) The dangers of humor
D) The value of competition
17. (Short answer) What does the Fred Rogers epigraph suggest about childhood?
Synthesis (Questions 18–20)
18. (Multiple choice) How does Gary's experience with Mrs. Rand in second first grade shape his later behavior?
A) It makes him more confident
B) It leads him to avoid conflict and seek approval
C) It makes him rebellious
D) It has no lasting effect
19. (Short answer) In what way does Gary's relationship with Billy Marmion contrast with his relationship with Wally Mitler?
20. (Multiple choice) What lesson does Gary ultimately convey to misfits?
A) You need to change who you are to fit in
B) Hold on to loved ones and try to get laughs
C) Success comes from external achievements
D) Avoid showing vulnerability
Answer Key
1. A — In kindergarten Gary learns to read (chapter 2), he repeats first grade (chapter 4), starts Hebrew school in third grade (chapter 6), and meets Kristel in tenth grade (chapter 11).
2. B — After receiving a conduct warning for insensitive remarks in April, Gary resolves to pursue basketball seriously (chapter 7).
3. He committed an offensive foul. — In the season opener against Brockton, Gary is benched after an offensive foul (chapter 10).
4. A — Wally is his early friend (chapters 2–5), Billy becomes close in fifth grade (chapter 8), Chris in seventh (chapter 9), and Kristel in tenth (chapter 11).
5. He throws it into the woods. — After receiving the tainted pink pig from Mrs. Rand, Gary throws it away on his way home (chapter 4).
6. C — The Jetsyns first appear in eleventh grade when they try to recruit him for football (chapter 12).
7. Mrs. Rand — She is the cold, sarcastic teacher who humiliates him and holds a class vote (chapter 4).
8. B — The fish die from overheated water because Gary likely turned up the heater (chapter 6).
9. B — He breaks the handle out of jealousy (chapter 2).
10. To impress classmates / to seem interesting. — Gary falsely claims he can speak French during show-and-tell, a performance to gain approval (chapter 2).
11. D — His father is angry about the boy giving the finger and follows the car to complain (chapter 3).
12. He realizes stand-up comedy is his calling; another career would be a compromise. — After seeing comedians at Nick's Comedy Stop, he understands that comedy is his true path (chapter 12).
13. B — He is heartbroken and uses avoidance as a coping mechanism, avoiding her for the rest of high school (chapter 12).
14. C — The green light represents chasing external achievements to fix melancholy, as Gary explains in the final chapter (chapter 14).
15. Stop chasing the green light / stop striving for external validation / embrace the present. — Gary advises his younger self to “get out of the boat” and abandon the futile pursuit of the past (chapter 14).
16. B — Friendship is a recurring theme, from Wally and Billy to Finn, Lori, and Sadé, and the book emphasizes holding on to loved ones (throughout).
17. We spend our lives reworking childhood material, like self-esteem, anger, and saying goodbye. — The epigraph from Fred Rogers frames these as lifelong tasks (chapter 1).
18. B — The humiliation and mob mentality lead Gary to avoid conflict, seek approval, and blame himself (chapter 4).
19. Billy is a loyal, everyday friend who accepts him, while Wally drifts away and becomes popular. — Billy shares his interests and trusts him with family secrets; Wally fades and later becomes popular (chapters 5 and 8).
20. B — Gary advises misfits to hold on to loved ones and try to get laughs, as he does in his final message (chapter 14).