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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 Peter use as an unconventional weapon?

2. How old is the youngest of the accused?

3. How many machete killings occur on the second day?

4. What do police think of Damian's eyewitness account?

5. What does intelligence agent Tommie Hicks ask permission to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Carrie Rose kill her ex-partner?

2. Why does Peter think the chances of anyone listening to his story are reduced?

3. What upsets Brooks Campbell about Peter's story?

4. How is the murder on the beach similar to the murder of Francis Cichoski, and what is the significance of the similarity?

5. Why does Damian leave Carrie in the water with the guns while he makes the deal with Dred?

6. Describe the actions Carrie Rose takes to make sure the letter delivered to the Evening Star newspaper can't be traced back to her.

7. Why does Damian wear disguises?

8. Why would Carrie Rose say in her diary that ordinary farmers with machetes caused heart attacks?

9. Why do the Roses sell guns to Dred?

10. Why might Monkey Dred bring an extra car to the arms deal, despite his earlier agreement with Carrie Rose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the desire for attention and approval in the novel. How does Damian show his desire for attention and fame (while he is careful to always hide his identity)? Why does Carrie, whose survival depends on people believing she's dead, publish her diary? Why does she desire attention and approval? Why do these characters, who desire attention, commit horrific acts? Can they be compared to children acting out to get attention? Who else in the novel desires attention and approval?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss glorification of violence in the novel. Does the novel glorify violence? Are the scenes of the killings unnecessary or exploitative? How does the novel acknowledge the glorification of violence through its portrayal of the press and publishing? Does Dred glorify violence, and what is the result?

Essay Topic 3

Peter is caught up in Damian Rose's scheme and becomes pitted against Damian as an adversary. In some ways, they are literary foils. For example, Peter is caught by the police when he tries to hire a boat, while Damian kills a boat owner when he wants a boat, leaving no one to turn him in. Compare Peter MacDonald and Damian Rose. What are their world views and motivations? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Is Peter entirely a hero? Is Damian entirely a villain?

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