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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 kind of house does Ochs visit at the beginning of Part 3?

2. Where does Ben leave a note for Berryman?

3. Why does Berryman go see his father?

4. What day(s) of the week did Oona and Berryman stay together a few weeks before Horn's murder?

5. Where does Berryman say he wants to retire?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Berryman goes to Bert Poole's house?

2. What happens to Ben at the end of Part 3, and what does the event cause readers to think about him?

3. Why is the letter Ochs receives due to his newspaper articles so important to the story?

4. Why does Ochs appear cautious of Oona after hearing her stories about her involvement with Berryman and the plan to murder Horn?

5. What events take place when Berryman arrives in Nashville before Horn's murder?

6. What happens at the country club that gives readers a stronger understanding of the plot to kill Horn?

7. Describe the meeting between Berryman and Johnboy.

8. What does Ochs say about Oona's parents, the Quinns?

9. What happens when Horn is on television?

10. In what way does Berryman show a lack of friendship toward Ben?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ochs finds out from his bosses that he is being sent to Long Island to visit the William Pound Institution. Ben Toy, a patient at the mental institute, says he has information about the murder of Jimmie Lee Horn. When Ochs finds out he is being sent to interview Ben, he believes the trip to Long Island will lead to a dead end. Why might Ochs think this? Does the fact that Ben is in a mental institution have anything to do with Ochs's opinion? Are there any other occurrences in the book that show Ben as someone who is not taken seriously, due to his mental issues?

Essay Topic 2

In Part 5, Oona is instructed to board a plane to Nashville, Tennessee in order to meet Berryman. Oona says she does not know why she is going to meet him, but she goes anyway. What does this tell readers about Oona's personality? Why does she trust Berryman even after she finds out he is a hit man about to assassinate a political figure?

Essay Topic 3

In Part 4, Ochs receives a letter from a customs inspector. What does the letter say? What is the connection between the information in the letter and Berryman's visit to New York City? Cite examples from the text in order to justify your response.

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