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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. Who is Jennifer Deighton?

2. What does Scarpetta conclude after examining the electric chair at the prison?

3. For whom was the suspicious message on Scarpetta's computer written?

4. Who is Vander?

5. What does Scarpetta find on her computer after Susan has gone there to lie down?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is so strange about the prison warden's behavior at the holiday party Scarpetta attends?

2. Why does Jennifer's neighbor not like her?

3. What does Scarpetta think of Heath's wounds?

4. What has happened to Eddie Heath?

5. What does Scarpetta learn from the prison guard about Waddell's final hours?

6. Who is Nicholas Grueman?

7. Why is the prison nearly empty when Marino and Scarpetta go to investigate Waddell's execution?

8. What suspicious call does Scarpetta get while in the lab after Jennifer's autopsy?

9. What does Marino confess to Scarpetta about his dating life while over at her house on Christmas?

10. What does Lucy suggest about what has happened to Scarpetta's computer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss at least 4 ways "Cruel and Unusual" would be different if it were to take place in a very rural setting.

Essay Topic 2

Is Cornwell using "Cruel and Unusual" as a means for making a commentary on the death penalty? If so, what is her message, and what 3 literary devices does she use to convey her opinion on the issue?

Essay Topic 3

Describe at least 4 ways that the novel is changed ,either positively or negatively, by having detailed cooking scenes with Scarpetta. Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 739 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample