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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. When Cross arrives at the federal prison to speak to Gary, why does Gary say he stopped at the restaurant?

2. What position does Jezzie Flanagan hold?

3. What are the two crimes that Cross wants Gary convicted of?

4. How much money does Gary owe his latest job?

5. Who does Gary say he is with in order to gain access to Vivian's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the introduction of the Lindbergh kidnapping at the beginning of the book suggest?

2. During the part of the story where the ransom drop is taking place, what is one reason the reader might think that Soneji is not the mastermind of the kidnapping?

3. Why does Cross think that the murderer in the Langley Terrace case is the same as Ms. Kim's murderer?

4. Why did Cross save Soneji from being shot to death by the sharpshooters?

5. What is Gary going to use Ms. Kim to do?

6. What do Cross and Sampson find when they first arrive at the private school?

7. Why does Maggie Rose feel she is in the spotlight?

8. Why is Cross drawn to the boy at the murder scene in Langley Terrace?

9. What causes Jezzie to cry for the first time, while she is at the Maryland farm?

10. Why does Cross find himself sympathizing with the Dunnes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Based on the entire novel, why do you think the author chose Jezzie to narrate the introductory material? What purpose would this serve? Would any other character have been more effective? How would using a different character alter the reader's perception of the story? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

What is Nana Mama's function in the story? Is she Cross' conscience or something else? Cite examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

What role do children play in the story? Compare and contrast the roles of three children in the story.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 620 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample