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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 looking for in Robyn Naismith's house?

2. How does Scarpetta first respond to the prosecutor's request to come to his office for questioning?

3. What is Sullivan's real name?

4. Why is Scarpetta not looking forward to her meeting with Grueman after her meeting with the bird expert?

5. What was found on the envelope in Susan's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jennifer's ex-husband like Scarpetta so much?

2. What personal advice does Marino give Scarpetta over lunch once rumors surrounding Susan's death have hit the papers?

3. What causes Benton and Scarpetta to wonder if Eddie Heath's and Robyn's murders are related?

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

5. What does the bird expert say about the feathers found at every crime scene?

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

7. What does Scarpetta accuse Ben of during the confrontation in Ben's office?

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

9. Why does Benton not believe that Waddell would be capable of the recent murders?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The only married character in "Cruel and Unusual" is Benton Wesley, and his wife is rarely seen in the story. Discuss why Cornwell chooses to have no strong example of a loving, healthy marriage for any of the characters in "Cruel and Unusual."

Essay Topic 3

Write a well-reasoned argument discussing whether or not Scarpetta is a good role model for young, female readers.

(see the answer keys)

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