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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. In Chapter 12, what habit does Sarah tell Miles she uses to dry her hair after a shower?

2. What did Miles do the night Missy died instead of blowing the cut grass off the sidewalk as she had asked?

3. In Chapter 15, how does Maureen introduce Miles to all of Sarah's relatives during Thanksgiving dinner?

4. In Chapter 5, why does Miles think Missy's killer ran from the scene of the accident?

5. What sport does Jonah Ryan play?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the two boys hunting in an abandoned house when Miles catches them in chapter 7? What does he do?

2. Why does the unnamed narrator tell the reader he went to Missy's funeral?

3. What reason does Sarah give for inviting Miles and Jonah to her family home for Thanksgiving dinner?

4. In Chapter 13, Miles asks Sarah about living in the big city. What does Sarah tell him? How does he react?

5. Why does Sarah tell Miles in Chapter 3 that she does not usually tutor students herself but will make an exception in this case?

6. In Chapter 7, why does Miles suddenly feel pressured to ask Sarah out? Why does he not do it?

7. What caused the demise of Sarah's marriage? How does she feel about this?

8. In Chapter 12, what does Miles tell Sarah about Missy? How does Sarah respond?

9. How does Sarah react to the news that her ex-husband is planning to remarry? Why does she react this way?

10. What does the unnamed narrator in Chapter 4 tell the reader kept Miles from looking for Missy on the day of her death when she was late coming home? Who told Miles about Missy's accident?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Miles feel about dating Sarah? What does Miles tell Sarah about Missy? Is Miles comfortable dating again? Why does Miles take Sarah on the tour of haunted houses in downtown New Bern? What story does Miles specifically want Sarah to hear? In that story, why did Katheryn place candles in her window? What was the message these candles were supposed to give to Harris? What does Sarah take from this story? What did Miles want her to take from the story? How do the candles become a symbol to Sarah later in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Who is the unnamed narrator? Why does he remain unnamed for such a long time in the novel? Why does the narrator feel that it is so important to tell Sarah and Miles' story? What clues are given to the reader throughout the book as to the narrator's identity? What clues are given to suggest the narrator is the one who killed Missy Ryan? Why did the narrator kill Missy? Was it truly an accident? If it was an accident, why did the narrator not call the police immediately? Did age have something to do with the narrator's actions? In what way?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following relationships in an essay:

1) Miles and Jonah.

2) Jonah and Sarah.

3) Sarah and her mother.

4) Miles and Charlie.

(see the answer keys)

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