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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 do the newspapers suggest about Scarpetta and Susan in the days after Susan's death?

2. What warning does Marino give Scarpetta about the evidence against her?

3. What does Scarpetta use to block the light from coming into Robyn's house?

4. How does Scarpetta answer the questions posed to her in court?

5. With whom is Benton vacationing over the holidays?

Short Essay Questions

1. What helps Scarpetta recognize Sullivan as the same person she saw in Grimes's house?

2. Why is Benton concerned for Scarpetta's safety?

3. Why isn't anyone able to get fingerprints from Waddell?

4. What does Scarpetta suspect about the briefcase Jennifer's ex-husband gives her?

5. What act of kindness does Charlie Hale do for Scarpetta?

6. What question does Grueman have about Scarpetta's finances?

7. How does Scarpetta explain away the incriminating evidence found in Susan's home?

8. What does Scarpetta learn about the bullets used in both Eddie Heath's and Susan's cases?

9. What does Susan's husband tell the newspapers about Scarpetta?

10. Why do Benton and Scarpetta rearrange the furniture in Robyn's old house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Scarpetta is a highly educated woman in a position of great power. Some might argue, however, that her character is unbelievable. Write a well-written argument discussing whether or not Scarpetta is a believable character and, if so, what three literary devices Cornwell uses to make her believable (or, in contrast, what literary devices Cornwell uses that makes her, in fact, unbelievable).

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss at least 3 ways the novel would change if it were written from the perspective of Detective Marino OR Special Agent Wesley. What are 3 literary devices Cornwell could use to write from these 2 different characters' perspectives?

(see the answer keys)

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