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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 does Audrey's birthdate identify her as the mystery woman whose clothes and toiletries were found in Greg's home and therefore the woman with whom Greg has been romantically involved?

2. What is Clip Arnstein's response when Myron tells him someone cleaned up the blood in Greg's basement?

3. What does Esperanza think is the link between Carla and the blackmail of Greg Downing in New York?

4. How much money does Greg Downing owe the B Man for his gambling debts?

5. At the beginning of Chapter Thirty Seven, what does Myron tell Calvin about Clip Arnstein?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Myron's relationship with his parents.

2. Why does Esperanza become concerned about Myron when she receives the list of people whose safe-deposit boxes were robbed in Tucson?

3. What happens when the B Man visits Myron at his office in Chapter Twenty-Three?

4. Why does Greg hide out at TC Collins' house?

5. Explain how Win determines Clip Arnstein is lying about knowing Sally or Carla.

6. What shocking secret is revealed on the tape Cole Whiteman sends Myron?

7. Why does say she killed Carla?

8. Why does Win go to Arizona at the end of the novel?

9. In Chapter Twenty Four, what does Clip Arnstein admit to knowing about Sally/Carla and her relationship with Greg Downing?

10. How does Myron figure out where to find Cole Whiteman and what alias Cole is currently using?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Fade Away is a mystery/thriller. Discuss what factors in the plot, setting, themes, and characters identify this novel as a mystery thriller. Are there any ways in which the novel is atypical for its genre? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Myron's relationship with Jessica and his relationship with Emily. Is there any evidence in the story that Myron still has romantic feelings for Emily or that Emily still has romantic feelings for him? How does Jessica respond when Myron tells her he'll be seeing Emily again as part of his investigation into Greg's disappearance? Does Jessica seem jealous of his relationship with Emily? Cite examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the depiction of women in Fade Away. What professions do the women in the novel have? What is the relationship of the female characters in the story to the male characters, i.e. are the female characters subordinate to the men and in traditional female roles or are any of the women in dominant and/or nontraditional roles? Give examples of how the novel's female characters exhibit typical or atypical gender role behavior for the era in which the novel is set. What do you think Harlan Coben is trying to say about women through the novel's female characters? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

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