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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. Why does the narrator believe Miles has stopped looking at the case file on Missy's case after a year?

2. What does Sarah say about Sims' and Earl's testimony concerning Otis' supposed confession?

3. Who pulls Sims Addison over after a night of drinking?

4. What angers Sarah most about Brian's confession?

5. Charlie learns that Earl has made what claims against the prison system?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 16, what does the unnamed narrator say he did when he saw Missy up ahead of him on the road?

2. In Chapter 20, where does Charlie decide to go in order to try to help Miles out of the mess he has created for himself?

3. In Chapter 27, why does Miles lash out at Sarah?

4. What threats against Miles does the district attorney and the Timson family attorney make to Charlie?

5. In Chapter 28, why does the unnamed narrator say he finally felt as though he could stop watching the Ryan home? Why is this?

6. Why does Miles tell Sarah he took the gun out of the gardening shed? Why does Miles say he can no longer see Sarah?

7. Why does Miles not tell Charlie the truth about his car accident and why he had Brian Andrews handcuffed in the back of his car? Why does Charlie not question him further?

8. What story does Sims tell Miles that makes Miles rush out of the sheriff's office without first speaking to Charlie?

9. Who calls Charlie with information about Miles? What does Charlie do as a result of these phone calls?

10. What does Miles do during the arrest of Otis Timson that could come back to haunt him later?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Miles accuse Sarah of having known of Brian's role in Missy death all along? What does Miles think Sarah was trying to do? Why did Miles push Sarah away? Why did Miles say that he could not be with Sarah after learning the truth about Brian? Did Miles still blame Sarah in some way? Why does Miles take Jonah and go away for a while at the end of the book? What was the meaning of the two candles that Sarah sees in her window later? What does this suggest about Miles and Sarah's relationship after the close of the book?

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 Sarah Andrews? Why does the author immediately introduce her divorce and the cause for it? What impact might such a situation have on a future relationship for Sarah? Does this situation impact Sarah's ability to be a romantic partner, to be a mother? What does Sarah think of Jonah Ryan? Why is Sarah concerned about him? Is what happened to Jonah a common occurrence? Why does Sarah think the previous teachers did Jonah a disservice? Did they? What does Sarah's opinion of Jonah and his situation say about Sarah as a teacher? About Sarah as a person?

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