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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 5, what does Jonah think is causing Miles' silence in the car ride home?

2. What does Sarah give to Jonah to make up for the lack of children to play with at Thanksgiving dinner?

3. What does the unnamed narrator say this story is about in the prologue?

4. In Chapter 1, what reason does Miles give Jonah for not making pancakes for breakfast?

5. In Chapter 1, what is Miles doing as he sits on his back porch?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Brenda insist on talking with Sarah about Miles? What does Brenda tell Sarah about Miles?

2. Why does Miles think he is not the type of man who can be alone? What is it Miles misses most about being married?

3. What does Miles tell Sarah about his family during their first date? How does Sarah react to the information?

4. Whom does Sarah run into as she waits for Miles to get their drinks at the Tavern? What is her initial impression of him?

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. What makes Miles suddenly realize he might like to ask Sarah to marry him one day?

7. Who does the unnamed narrator say this story is about? Why does he preface this by telling the reader all about Missy Ryan?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Miles' job? How does the author introduce this occupation to the reader? Is Miles good at his job? Why does Miles let two boys go after he catches them shooting owls in an abandoned house? Why did the author include this scene in his book? What does this scene say about Miles? What does it say about Miles as a sheriff's deputy? Later, why does the author have Miles be the deputy who arrests Sims Addison? What impact does this arrest have on Miles? What information does Sims give to Miles? What might Sims have done if it had been different deputy who arrested him that night? Why did Sims wait so long to come forward with this information?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Charlie take Miles' guns and his case file in Missy's death? What is Charlie afraid Miles will do? Does the reader think Miles is capable of such an act? Why does Miles later find a gun that he had hidden away? What does Miles plan to do with this gun? Would killing the person responsible really make things easier for Miles in regards to Missy's death? Would Missy have wanted him to do such a thing? What would happen to Jonah? Would Charlie be able to arrest Miles for such an act?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following relationships in detail:

1) Sarah and Brian.

2) Miles and Missy.

3) Charlie and Miles.

4) Otis Timson and Miles.

(see the answer keys)

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