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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 Marino tell Scarpetta about Abby Turnbull and Clifford Ring?

2. When interviewed, what does Mr. Joyce remember seeing on a July night when he went to his mailbox?

3. Why is Steven Spurrier arrested?

4. What "profile" of the serial killer is emerging in Chapter 16?

5. Who is Mr. Joyce?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Mr. Joyce and his relationship to Dammit.

2. Explain the importance of Spurrier's aplastic anemia.

3. What do Scarpetta and Marino discover in Chapter 14 about the cemetery where the bodies of Mott and Harrington were found?

4. What's the significance of Jill Harrington not having any bills for a newspaper subscription?

5. Why does Scarpetta send Abby Turnbull to check out Barry Aranoff?

6. What's the connection between Scarpetta and Anna Zenner and Jill Harrington?

7. What is the result of the meeting between Detective Montana, Scarpetta and Marino in Chapter 13?

8. In Chapter 12, why does Scarpetta decide to call Abby Turnbull about the murders of Jill Harington and Elizabeth Mott?

9. After the meeting with Mr. Joyce, what does Scarpetta reason about the killer that leads her to the next step in her investigation?

10. Why is it significant that Aranoff is not the man that approached Scarpetta and Abby that evening at the restaurant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hilda Ozimek, the psychic, played a key role in this story. The following two part question addresses the nature of this character in the development of the story's plot. Be sure to support your answer using examples from the story.

a) How is Ozimek's character useful in moving the story forward?

b) Could the author have used another device or character with equal effectiveness?

Essay Topic 2

The issue of control is another dominant theme in this story. Select one of the following characters and describe how the issue of control played as both a positive and a negative influence in the character's decisions.

Kay Scarpetta

Steven Spurrier

Pat Harvey

Abby Turnbull

Essay Topic 3

Explain how each of the following pieces of information assisted in the development of either the plot or the characters in this story. Be specific in describing how you came to your conclusions.

Pat Harvey's husband having an affair

Pat Harvey's dislike of Fred Cheney

The mutual dislike between Pete Marino and Abby Turnbull

(see the answer keys)

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