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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 is Scarpetta asking Dr. Vessey to examine?

2. How does the mother of one of the missing teens arrive at the crime scene?

3. During the autopsy, what important detail does Scarpetta discover about Deborah's spine?

4. Where were the bodies of Deborah Harvey and Fred Cheney found?

5. What do Scarpetta and Marino take with them on a field investigation?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Chapter 1 opens, what is Scarpetta's perspective on working with other police agencies involved in VICAP?

2. Describe Scarpetta's reaction to the newspaper headlines after the abandoned Jeep was found.

3. Why does Scarpetta wish to avoid answering Pat's question about the search-and-rescue dog in Chapter 2?

4. What information is Scarpetta after when she meets Wesley for lunch in Chapter 9?

5. What does Pat Harvey believe about her daughter's death?

6. Why is Scarpetta concerned about the bodies of Cheney and Harvey being moved?

7. Why does Scarpetta struggle over spending time with Abby Turnbull in Chapter 3?

8. How does Ozimek explain what she does?

9. Describe the appearance of the bodies of Harvey and Cheney at the murder scene.

10. What is the significance of Pat Harvey's political connections on the investigation of her daughter's disappearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to write about:

1) Discuss the multiple issues the FBI was balancing while investigating The Couple Killings and the impact of those issues on the investigation.

2) Abby Turnbull and Pat Harvey share information with each other on a regular basis. Do you think this was a reasonable thing for Abby to do? Use examples from the story to support your answer.

3) Pat Harvey was convinced Steven Spurrier murdered her daughter and that Spurrier would never be convicted. Ms. Harvey decided to take matters into her own hands. What do you think of Pat Harvey's decision and should her actions have been foreseen by the police and FBI? Use examples from the book to explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Below are three examples of a character or piece of information presented in the story that ultimately proved unimportant in solving the crime. With each example, explain what purpose you think the author had in mind by introducing these elements into the story.

Pete Marino's wife

Scarpetta's niece, Lucy

Deborah Harvey's breast-reduction operation

Essay Topic 3

Explain how each of the following incidental characters moved the plot along. Use examples from the book to support your answers.

Dammit the dog

Mr. Joyce

Anna Zenner

(see the answer keys)

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