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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 4, what is the unnamed narrator looking at on his desk as he writes this section of his story?

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

3. What does Miles refer to as D-Day?

4. In Chapter 6, what does Sarah say makes her hate Michael so much?

5. How old was Missy Ryan when she was killed?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. 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?

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

8. In Chapter 13, what story does Miss Harkins tell Sarah and Miles?

9. How does Miles react when Charlie tells him that Otis Timson would be released from jail that day? For what reason?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Miles arrest Otis Timson? Should Miles have arrested Otis on charges of killing Missy? Should Miles have handled the situation differently? Why did Miles hold a gun to Otis' head? What charges could Miles face for doing such a thing? Was Miles acting inappropriately? What does it say about Miles that he did not kill Otis when given the chance? Why did Miles not tell Charlie immediately what was going on? What might have happened differently if Miles had gone to Charlie first?

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

Who is Miles Ryan? Why is he having trouble sleeping at the beginning of the novel? What is Miles thinking about? What has his life been like since the death of his wife? Why has the death of his wife touched his life so profoundly? Why does Miles worry about his son, Jonah? Why does Miles think he is not the type of man to be alone? What does this say about Miles' feelings for his wife, Missy? How do the opening chapters suggest that Miles has changed as a person since his wife's death? Are these changes good? Bad? How have they impacted Miles' life overall?

(see the answer keys)

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