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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. What does Kinsey plan to do after she meets with Sharon Napier?

2. When Kinsey asks Charlotte Mercer about Sharon Napier, what does Charlotte tell her?

3. Kinsey tries to do something every day and fits it in before she goes to her second meeting with Gwen Fife. What does she do?

4. What is the name of the hotel where Sharon Napier worked?

5. At their first meeting, what does Gwen give Kinsey permission to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Kinsey confronts Lyle after she leaves the Glass residence by following him to his workplace. How does he respond to her questions about Libby?

2. What is Kinsey's impression of Las Vegas?

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

4. What does Kinsey learn when she stops to speak to Laurence Fife's pharmacist before she leaves Montebello?

5. How does Kinsey get to Las Vegas?

6. 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?

7. How does Kinsey finally get in touch with Sharon Napier in Las Vegas, and what happens when she meets with her?

8. Before she agrees to work for Nikki, Kinsey questions her about her marriage to Laurence. What does Nikki tell her? How does Kinsey respond to her?

9. Kinsey likes to jog every day, and when she goes out for her daily run after visiting Montebello, Charlie Scorsoni pulls up beside her in his blue Mercedes. They go back to Kinsey's apartment. What do they talk about there?

10. How does Kinsey decide that she will investigate the case for Nikki?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does authenticity mean when it applies to the writing of fiction? What must be made authentic in the genre of mystery novel writing? Give four examples of specific topics or events that the author has made authentic in "'A' is for Alibi."

Essay Topic 2

Define climax as part of the plot structure in literature. Where does the climax occur in "'A' Is for Alibi"? What is the result of the events of the climax? What does it reveal about the purpose of the story?

Essay Topic 3

In reference to the plotting of "'A' Is for Alibi":

(1) Why are the events of the novel arranged as they are?

(2) What moves the narrative along? Is it external action or internal conflicts? Or a combination of both? Support your answer with three examples.

(see the answer keys)

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