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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. Decker is the second person that Dennis tries to hire to investigate Dickie's cheating. Who was hired before Decker?

2. According to Pickney's educated guess, about how much does Bobby's tackle box weigh?

3. After walking away from his elected office, where did Clinton Tyree settle down?

4. How many men are on the boat that comes to retrieve the marked fish at the New Orleans fishing tournament?

5. What is the name of the pathologist who conducts Bobby Clinch's autopsy?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the beginning of the story, while he's filming the next episode of his fishing show, why is Dickie Lockhart frustrated?

2. When Decker first sees the state trooper after arriving back in Harney, Decker notices something different about this trooper. What makes this trooper different from the others?

3. Why are the fishing guides in Harney paid up to $200 per day for their services?

4. Why does the local pathologist who examines Bobby Clinch's body not do a thorough autopsy?

5. Why did Catherine call Decker when she and James were on their honeymoon?

6. As Decker returns to Skink's house after Bobby's funeral, why does Decker honk his horn twice?

7. What does Decker like best about the car he drives?

8. According to Decker, what is the most dreaded assignment in journalism?

9. What does Dennis Gault hope to gain by pulling out of the next few fishing tournaments?

10. When Dickie goes to Weeb's hotel room in New Orleans, what is the rumor that Dickie has heard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bobby Clinch and Ott Pickney can be seen as kindred spirits. Although they are not quite the same, they share a number of similarities. Identify and describe these similarities. Then, based on your discussion of their similarities, identify the ways in which these two men's similarities facilitate the plot's development and moves the story forward.

Essay Topic 2

Reverend Weeb wears different masks in the story. Both a Christian leader and a cheat, Weeb is a study in contradictions. Identify, then compare and contrast the different sides of the reverend. How would his plan for establishing Lunker Lakes have been affected had he not been a successful at deceiving those around him? Why is it necessary for Weeb to wear different masks? Could he have been successful in launching Lunker Lakes without being deceptive? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

There are several characters introduced in the story who do not survive until the end. Identify at least three people killed as the novel progresses. Compare and contrast each of these deaths, being sure to indicate which character died, how the character died, who was responsible for the character's death, and what impact on the overall plot the character's death had. What could have - or should have - been learned from each of these deaths by the other characters?

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