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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 does Bill say the killer being quiet may mean?

2. What does Margaret tell Scarpetta she has that might be helpful?

3. What does Lucy say to Scarpetta while they are eating dinner in chapter nine?

4. Who does Abby say has been her source?

5. What does Marino say when he hands the tapes to Scarpetta in chapter fifteen?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the phone conversation that takes place between Scarpetta and Abby Turnbull in the end of chapter fourteen.

2. What happens in chapter nine after Lucy goes to bed?

3. What happens while Wingo is cleaning out the lab refrigerator in chapter nine?

4. What does Scarpetta tell Abby about her sister's death in chapter thirteen?

5. What does Abby Turnbull say happened to her that the police didn't help with?

6. What is Scarpetta told when her mother calls in chapter nine?

7. Explain what is discovered about the killer by the end of the book.

8. Describe the changes that Scarpetta is noticing and what she is thinking about as she drives home in the beginning of chapter nine.

9. Describe the results of the testing done by Scarpetta and Vander in chapter ten with the pink soap.

10. Describe the scene at home in chapter fourteen when Scarpetta arrives home to Lucy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pick one of the following to write about:

1) Speculate on what it was about Matt Peterson that Scarpetta also believed was not adding up. Is there a reason that the author wouldn't have gone back to answer this question?

2) What role does the DNA and forensic evidence play in the story? Could the story have been written and focused much less on this information? Explain.

3) Which of the subplots seen in the story are likely to be looked at again in later books in the series? Explain why these seem significant.

Essay Topic 2

Part 1) Explain the relationship that Lucy and Scarpetta have.

Part 2) What does Lucy represent for Scarpetta? What does Scarpetta represent for Lucy?

Part 3) What is significant in Lucy's statement at the end of the story that Scarpetta is sounding just like Scarpetta's mother?

Essay Topic 3

Part 1) Is Scarpetta a believable character? Is the way that she claims to be treated different because she is female seemingly realistic in a modern setting? Explain.

Part 2) What other prejudices are seen in the story.

(see the answer keys)

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