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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 job offer does Benton make to Scarpetta by the end of the novel?

2. Why does no one know for sure what was stolen from Robyn Naismith's home?

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

4. Why do Scarpetta's guns need to be examined?

5. What does Scarpetta do to keep herself calm when she is under suspicion?

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes the governor to resign?

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

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

4. What does Grueman confess about why he was so hard on Scarpetta in law school?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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