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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. How is Santa Teresa, where Kinsey works and lives, described in Chapter 2?

2. Whom does Kinsey interview after she leaves Nikki's former home?

3. What does Kinsey remember about the Laurence Fife case that might be important to his death?

4. Kinsey tries to do something every day and fits it in before she goes to her second meeting with Gwen Fife. What does she do?

5. Gwen Fife and Kinsey meet again at a restaurant the evening of their first meeting. What information does Gwen give Kinsey about her children?

Short Essay Questions

1. After her discussion with Charlotte Mercer, Kinsey decides she must find Sharon Napier. How does she do this?

2. Gwen tells Kinsey that Laurence had an affair with the wife of a judge. What does Kinsey do with this information, and what does she find out?

3. What happens when Kinsey gets to Sharon's apartment?

4. Kinsey and Nikki discuss how Laurence died. What was the cause of his death?

5. What other case has Kinsey started working on when she is approached by Nikki?

6. What is Charlie's reaction to Nikki Fife's reopening the murder case? What does he say about Gwen Fife, Sharon Napier, and Libby Glass?

7. Kinsey tells Nikki she believes that Nikki is innocent. She agrees to take the case on certain conditions. What are they? What does Nikki do?

8. What is Con Dolan's impression of Kinsey's assessment of the Fife case?

9. What happens when Lyle comes over to lunch at the Glasses'?

10. The day after meeting Charlie Scorsoni, Kinsey meets Gwen Fife. Where do they meet, and what does Kinsey learn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does authenticity mean when it applies to the writing of fiction? What must be made authentic in the genre of mystery novel writing? Give four examples of specific topics or events that the author has made authentic in "'A' is for Alibi."

Essay Topic 2

The resolution of a story is the wrapping up of details and often the aftermath of the climactic events. Why was Kinsey's report included at the end of the book? Do you believe these added to the themes of truth and justice? As a reader, how did you respond to the report?

Essay Topic 3

What do the element of challenges add to a work of fiction, in particular, the murder mystery novel? What challenges does Kinsey Millhone face in "'A' Is for Alibi"? Give four examples of challenges, and explain how she overcomes or is defeated by these challenges.

(see the answer keys)

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