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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. Whose vomit is in the lab sink?

2. To what does Domenica admit?

3. Why does Bradley ask for a brief interview with Dr. Lorrimer?

4. What seems paradoxical about Mr. Lorrimer when he speaks of his son?

5. What has Dalgliesh discovered on his first day of investigating?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Major Hunt tell Dalgliesh and Massingham about Dr. Lorrimer's will?

2. What does Angela Foley do when she learns of Stella's death and what does Dalgliesh believe about the death?

3. Describe Domenica Schofield.

4. What does Dalgliesh find during his search of the chapel?

5. What do several witnesses on a bus tell the detectives?

6. What does Dalgliesh think about concerning his interview with Dr. Kerrison?

7. Describe Brenda Pridmore's walk through the construction site.

8. What does Dalgliesh learn from Miss Willard?

9. Describe the scene at the chapel when Dalgliesh and Massingham arrive and what do they do.

10. Describe Miss Willard.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The murder of Stella Mawson comes late in the book. Discuss the following:

1. How does the murder of Stella Mawson contribute to the basic plot line or not?

2. How different would Death of an Expert Witness be if Mawson has not been murdered?

3. How did you as a reader react to Mawson's murder? Explain thoroughly.

4. Most readers have heard of the term "gratuitous violence" when referring to violence that seems to be a part of a story for no good reason. Is this true of Mawson's murder? Explain your thoughts with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Obviously, suspense/mystery is a part of the detective genre. Answer the following questions:

1. What do you think is the difference between suspense and mystery? Give examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Does Death of an Expert Witness hold more suspense of mystery? Explain your answer with examples.

3. Would you rather read a mystery or a suspense or do you think there is any difference between the two?

4. Does Death of an Expert Witness offer enough suspense and/or mystery to keep you turning the pages? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

For most people, murder is an unthinkable act, though many might say "I'm going to murder you if you don't" Discuss the following:

1. Analyze and discuss which of the characters seem to have a motive to murder Dr. Lorrimer. What is each character's motive? Do any of the motives seem strong enough to warrant murder?

2. Discuss and analyze the difference between the first murder of Dr. Lorrimer that Dr. Kerrison commits versus the second one of Stella Mawson. Consider the following questions. Which murder seems most justified? What is the motive for each murder? Each murder involves blackmail. Does this change your view of Dr. Kerrison as a murderer?

3. What are possible ways Dr. Kerrison could have handled the situations with the persons he murdered short of murder? Would taking alternate courses solve his problems?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,434 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample