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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. Before Kinsey meets with Gwen for a second time, Charlie Scorsoni shows up. What does he want?

2. The police detective decided not to charge Nikki with Libby Glass' death. Why?

3. Later the same day after her first meeting with Gwen, Kinsey asks Nikki Fife to meet her in the house where Laurence died. Where is the house?

4. Why does Kinsey go to see the Santa Teresa detective in Chapter 2?

5. According to Nikki, why was Laurence Fife taking a medication called HistaDril before he died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Lyle comes over to lunch at the Glasses'?

2. What is Con Dolan's impression of Kinsey's assessment of the Fife case?

3. In Chapter 6, where does Kinsey meet Nikki to talk about what she has learned so far? What is the place like? What information do they share?

4. What other case has Kinsey started working on when she is approached by Nikki?

5. Kinsey meets Nikki for the second time at Rosie's Bar. What is Rose's Bar, and what do they discuss there?

6. What is Charlie's reaction to Nikki Fife's reopening the murder case? What does he say about Gwen Fife, Sharon Napier, and Libby Glass?

7. After Nikki writes Kinsey a check for her services, the women talk about Sharon Napier. Who is Sharon and what does Nikki tell Kinsey about her? Whom does Kinsey suggest she herself should talk to?

8. Immediately after taking on Nikki's case, Kinsey turns her attention to Charlie Scorsoni, Laurence Fife's law partner. What is the result of this?

9. When Kinsey meets with Gwen for the second time, this time at a restaurant, what does Gwen tell Kinsey about her relationship with Laurence?

10. What happens when Kinsey gets to Sharon's apartment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Conflict is a common element of writing in both fiction and nonfiction. Why is conflict so often used in narratives? How can it help move a story along? Give four examples where conflict in "'A' Is for Alibi" occurs and how it helps explain the relationship between Kinsey and other characters.

Essay Topic 2

State the theme of "'A' Is for Alibi." How is the theme of the story reflected in the conflicts Kinsey Millhone experiences as she works on her case? Give four examples with an explanation for each one.

Essay Topic 3

Tone refers to the attitude of the author of a work. Through Kinsey, as the narrator of "'A' Is for Alibi," what is the author's tone at different stages of the book? Explain the tone, with examples:

1) At the beginning of the book, when Kinsey takes on the Fife case

2) When Kinsey is doing the groundwork of her investigation

3) When Kinsey gets involved with Charlie

4) When Kinsey gets the answers she needs to solve the case

(see the answer keys)

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