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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. On a hunch and before she leaves the key place, Kinsey talks to Garry Steinberg. What does she tell him?

2. While visiting Nikki and Colin for the second time, what does Kinsey tell her about Laurence?

3. Charlie shows up soon after she's reviewed the Fife case. Why has he come to see her?

4. Why does Kinsey think this new information on Lyle's past work life might be important?

5. After visiting Greg, Kinsey goes to see his sister Diane. Where does she live?

Short Essay Questions

1. Kinsey decides she has to return to Nikki's beach house to follow up on something. What is it, and what is the result of the follow up?

2. After meeting with Garry Steinberg, Kinsey goes back to the Glass residence where only Mrs. Glass is waiting for her. What happens when they go down to the basement to get Libby's things?

3. What does Kinsey learn at her meeting with Garry Steinberg?

4. After her fight with Charlie, what does Kinsey do? What does this make her realize? What happens when he comes over later to apologize?

5. What does Kinsey do when she returns to the Glass residence the day after the explosion?

6. After Garry shares his news about Lyle, Gwen Fife calls Kinsey, and they arrange to meet for lunch. What does Gwen tell Kinsey, and how does Kinsey respond?

7. After meeting with Con, Kinsey decides the time has come to finally trap Marcia Threadgill, the fraudster who is trying to get money out of the California Fidelity Insurance Company. What does Kinsey do?

8. After confronting Lyle in L.A., Kinsey goes to the accounting firm where Libby used to work. What does she tell Garry Steinberg that she suspects about Charlie?

9. What is the result of Kinsey's going to the Ranch House restaurant with Charlie?

10. On the Monday after her meal with Charlie, Kinsey meets with Con Dolan at homicide. What is the outcome of her meeting with Con?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Charlie Scorsoni is presented as an antagonist in "'A' Is for Alibi." Why does the author choose to keep this hidden from the reader until very near the end of the novel? Explain how the author presents Charlie in a negative light, giving four examples.

Essay Topic 2

What do the element of challenges add to a work of fiction, in particular, the murder mystery novel? What challenges does Kinsey Millhone face in "'A' Is for Alibi"? Give four examples of challenges, and explain how she overcomes or is defeated by these challenges.

Essay Topic 3

What role do other characters play in the mystery novel "'A' Is for Alibi"? Are they as important to the narrative as the narrator (Kinsey) is? Give four examples where four other characters are central to the storytelling. Give two examples where the narrative is focused only on Kinsey. Give two examples where Kinsey's relationship with two other characters is the focus of the narrative.

(see the answer keys)

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