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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. Where has Susan Stone been murdered?

2. What does Scarpetta notice on Susan Stone's body while examining the crime scene?

3. Where does Lucy live?

4. What has Lucy done to Scarpetta's office without asking while Scarpetta is at work?

5. Who is Dr. Kay Scarpetta?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Scarpetta think of Heath's wounds?

2. Who was Robyn Naismith?

3. What is Scarpetta looking for on people's computers while she is trying to figure out who hacked into her own machine?

4. What does Jennifer Deighton do for a living?

5. What reasons does Susan give Scarpetta for why she has been acting funny lately?

6. Describe Scarpetta's personal life.

7. What happened to Marino's partner before Waddell was caught?

8. What medical case/situation does a detective ask for Scarpetta's advice on while she is dealing with Waddell's body?

9. What is so strange about the prison warden's behavior at the holiday party Scarpetta attends?

10. What does Marino think of the way Heath was killed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the information about Scarpetta's relationship with Mark contribute to her character? Provide at least 3 specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

Is Cornwell using "Cruel and Unusual" as a means for making a commentary on the death penalty? If so, what is her message, and what 3 literary devices does she use to convey her opinion on the issue?

Essay Topic 3

What clues does Cornwell give the reader that demonstrates Scarpetta's innocence throughout "Cruel and Unusual"? What does Cornwell do to make that evidence seem believable to the reader in the face of other incriminating evidence?

(see the answer keys)

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