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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 Spiro give Stephanie to follow up on the caskets?

2. Why is Stephanie suspicious of the Sandman at the beginning of Chapter Five?

3. What does Morelli take from Stephanie, without her permission?

4. What is one of the problems Stephanie has with Morelli?

5. Why does Moogey have a closed casket?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does the fact that the stolen guns are from Fort Braddock mean that Kenny is guilty?

2. Why does Morelli want Stephanie to stay away from the Sandman?

3. When Spiro produces an unsigned letter much like the one Stephanie received, what does this device achieve?

4. What drives Stephanie's distrust of Morelli in this particular case?

5. By leaving a card with the Sandman's neighbor, is Stephanie setting herself up as a target or simply attempting to get information?

6. Why does Stephanie become suspicious of Spiro and the cheap caskets?

7. What device does the author use to create a past between Stephanie and Morelli?

8. Why does Stephanie visit dangerous suspects without back-up?

9. Why does Grandma Mazur pull the finger off of the corpse at the funeral home?

10. Why did parts of the 'Burg seem to become less fortunate than others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stephanie and Morelli share a romantic interest for one another within the story. Yet, they do not end up together at the end of the book.

1) Compare the two characters. How are they similar? How are they different?

2) Consider how these two characters compliment each other. Do they work well together? Or do they work better alone?

3) Based on your analysis of who they are, consider their compatibility. Are these two characters a love match? Or are they better off to just stay out of each other's way?

Essay Topic 2

Stephanie is fiercely independent, yet there are many instances where Morelli is present to protect her. List three moments where Morelli tried to protect Stephanie. Based on the text, determine whether or not his protection in these moments actually kept Stephanie safe or if she was perfectly safe on her own.

Essay Topic 3

There were several criminals involved in the many crimes committed throughout the novel: Kenny, the Sandman, Spiro and Moogey. Choose one of these criminals and analyze the different factors that contributed to his downfall.

(see the answer keys)

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