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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. What movie does O'Connell make references to by Alfred Hitchcock in Chapter 4?

2. Who has a famous reputation that allows her/him entry into the seance?

3. Who consulted a medium about stocks before her/his death?

4. Who is the owner of the building in which Mallory has a new office?

5. How old was Cathery when he was institutionalized?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Edith reveal about showmanship and fraud?

2. Why is Mallory disconcerted when she meets Edith?

3. Why does a dog jump out the window in the prologue?

4. How does Mallory gain access into the theater where Gaynor is?

5. When Margot cannot get into her apartment, how does she reveal her desperation in her subsequent acts?

6. Why is Butler able to relate to Cathery?

7. How is Mallory described in the book?

8. What is shocking about Mallory's discovery about her father dancing?

9. How does Mallory act at the crime scene of her father?

10. Why is Sloop unable to tell the exact time of death of Markowitz?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Foreshadowing is the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the novel. The objective of this lesson is to discuss the use of foreshadowing in the book. Why does O'Connell insert foreshadowing into the novel? is it effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the detecting techniques of the four sleuths of Mallory, Coffey, Riker, and Butler; cover how they each approach the murder and whether their intuitions were correct. Who actually solves the murders and how?

Essay Topic 3

Edith and Gaylor are two intriguing characters involved with seances.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Edith had a direct influence upon? What are some events that Gaylor had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support to the seance group? Which one is stronger and why?

(see the answer keys)

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