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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. Who becomes angry at the news of the undercover work?

2. What is the name of the widow Brunetti must question?

3. What is the profession of the interviewee?

4. Who was distraught at the news of the man's death?

5. The police have a plan to investigate the murder. What is the first step in executing the plan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the truck and the victims after the scene is cleared by the police?

2. What did a bystander have to say about the presence of the women at the scene? What made the bystanders change their minds about the women?

3. What does the doctor think killed Favero? How much of the substance was present? What does it mean?

4. What happens to the news about the accident a few days after it occurred? How was the story rediscovered and by whom?

5. Who discovers Trevisan's body? What is the character's initial reaction? What does the character do?

6. How does Paola react to Chiara's news? What does Paola try to explain to Chiara?

7. What happened after the police were called? What was the response by officials?

8. What is the first scene in the book? What time of year is it? Why are the scene and the weather important to the rest of the story?

9. Who initially attempts to help the accident victims? Why might this action be unusual? What happened next?

10. What is the conversation between Paola and Brunetti after Chiara goes to bed? How does each character feel about the discussion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Signora Ceroni originally works at the travel agency to cover up the cartel's activities. Explain how Ceroni became involved with the business. Who started the agency? What was Ceroni's role? How did she become involved in the cartel? What caused Ceroni to become a legitimate businesswoman? What ideas did Ceroni take to the cartel? Was Ceroni loyal to the cartel and their activities? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Pinetta's bar was used in several instances in the story. Discuss the reason to use Pinetta's bar for meetings, interviews, stakeouts and corralling suspects. What benefits are there to using a bar opposed to a coffee shop or restaurant? What did Brunetti learn at Pinetta's? Do you think Franco will continue to do business at Pinetta's even after he was taken into Questura for questioning? What might the other patrons and bartender think of cops being in the bar?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the story, Brunetti was presented with various leads that might help to solve the case. There are also leads that could distract Brunetti and lead him on a wild goose chase. Discuss how Brunetti could tell a valuable lead from one that may not turn out to be anything important. Does one get precedence in the investigation? If so, how do the police decide? Do you think that the clues Brunetti chose to follow were the best ones? How might you have handled the case?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 925 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample