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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 1, what is Miles doing as he sits on his back porch?

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

3. In Chapter 5, what is Miles thinking about as he drives home with Jonah?

4. In Chapter 9, what does Miles watch after Jonah has gone to bed?

5. What object became a symbol of the love between Harris and Kathryn Presser?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. How does Miles deal with Jonah's many nightmares?

9. How do Sarah's parents react to meeting Miles and Jonah for the first time? What is Brian's reaction to Miles and Jonah?

10. What did Miles do the day Missy died rather than stay home and care for the lawn as she asked? What were the last words he said to her that day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Missy's accident. Was it truly an accident? Did Brian do something wrong in the way he was driving? Was Missy at fault for her own death? Why did Missy jump into the road? How could Brian have avoided the accident? Why did Brian leave the scene of the accident? What might have happened had Brian called the police? What would have happened if Brian had called the police the next day? Why did Brian not tell anyone about his role in Missy's accident? Why did Miles later tell Brian not to tell anyone? Why did Miles let Brian go? Why does Brian tell the reader that Miles did what he did for Jonah's sake? How might it have impacted Jonah's life if Brian had been arrested for Missy's death?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Charlie refuse to allow Miles to work on the investigation into Otis Timson's role in Missy's death? Why does the district attorney threaten to have Miles arrested? Why does Charlie defend Miles even if he thinks Miles did something wrong? Why does Charlie agree to look into Sims Addison's allegations? What does he learn? Why does Charlie become concerned that Miles might hurt Otis Timson? Who is among those who call Charlie to warn him about Miles' behavior? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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