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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 31, what one reason does Sarah remind Miles of to keep him from killing Otis?

2. What does the narrator see Miles fail to do with Jonah while he is watching them after Missy's death?

3. In Chapter 28, what does the narrator say has become his weekly habit since Missy's death?

4. In Chapter 26, why does Jonah tell Miles he does not like the case file on Missy's accident?

5. Where does Miles go after leaving the sheriff's office?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 20, where does Miles go after Charlie sends him home? What does he notice there?

2. In Chapter 24, what is Miles doing when Jonah comes home from school? What does he tell Sarah when she later comes to the house?

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

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

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

6. In Chapter 29, why does Brian suddenly feel it is important to tell Sarah to make Miles back off of Otis Timson? What does Brian reveal to the reader in this chapter?

7. Why does the unnamed narrator begin to spy on Jonah and Miles? What does he hope to see?

8. What does Charlie imply he knows about Brian Andrews? How does Miles respond?

9. In Chapter 22, after visiting Earl Getlin, what conclusion does Charlie come to about Sims' statements?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

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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