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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. Why does Scarpetta block the light from coming into Robyn's house?

2. How long does Lucy's search of AFIS take?

3. What does Benton offer Lucy?

4. What is Scarpetta looking for in Robyn Naismith's house?

5. Who technically owns Robyn Naismith's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes the governor to resign?

2. Why does Scarpetta head to Robyn's old house to get fingerprints?

3. Once Lucy discovers someone has tapped into AFIS, what is Benton's theory about Waddell's fingerprints?

4. Why is Scarpetta relieved of her duties?

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

6. Over dinner at the ski lodge, what do Benton and Scarpetta decide is an unlikely hypothesis of Waddell?

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

8. Why does Scarpetta find the request to see her guns ridiculous?

9. How does Scarpetta know that the killer only had access to crime scene pictures, not the crime scene itself, of Robyn's murder?

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

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

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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