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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. Whose son is Massingham?

2. What is Middlemass's role in the halftime entertainment at the village concert the night of the murder of Dr. Lorrimer?

3. What is in the lab that is likely the murder weapon?

4. What does Middlemass do to Dr. Lorrimer?

5. How do Brenda's parents feel about her job?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the conversation between Brenda Pridmore and Adam Dalgliesh.

2. Why does Blakelock go up to Dr. Lorrimer's lab and what does he tell Director Howarth when coming back downstairs?

3. Why is Dr. Lorrimer's father calling and what does Brenda offer to do?

4. Describe Angela Foley.

5. Who arrives at the lab before any one else and what surprises one of them?

6. What does Nell do after her father has left the house?

7. Why is Dr. Kerrison leaving his home in the middle of the night and what is his biggest concern?

8. Describe Brenda Pridmore.

9. About what does Adam Dalgliesh speak to his boss?

10. How helpful is the interview with Cliff Bradley for Dalgliesh?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The murder of Stella Mawson comes late in the book. Discuss the following:

1. How does the murder of Stella Mawson contribute to the basic plot line or not?

2. How different would Death of an Expert Witness be if Mawson has not been murdered?

3. How did you as a reader react to Mawson's murder? Explain thoroughly.

4. Most readers have heard of the term "gratuitous violence" when referring to violence that seems to be a part of a story for no good reason. Is this true of Mawson's murder? Explain your thoughts with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare and contrast Dr. Lorrimer with Dr. Kerrison. How are they similar and how are they different? Do you think Dr. Lorrimer's hatred of Dr. Kerrison had any basis in Dr. Lorrimer's own self image?

2. Compare and contrast Director Howarth with Domenica Schofield. How are they similar and how are they different? Can you tell where they have similar issues by being half siblings?

3. Compare and contrast Adam Dalgliesh with John Massingham.How are they similar and how are they different? How are their investigative styles alike or different? How do they interact with people differently?

Essay Topic 3

Angela Foley's grandmother has nothing to do with Angela as Angela is growing up and even allows the young girl to go to an orphanage when her mother dies. Discuss the following:

1. Does it make sense for the grandmother to take her dislike of her daughter out on her granddaughter? Why or why not. Is it ethical or moral? Or is it an ethical or moral issue? Explain.

2. How do you think it impacts Angela as a child for her grandmother to reject her especially after Angela's mother dies? How do you think this may have influenced her choices as an adult?

3. What personality traits do you think Angela holds as a result of being caught in the cross-hairs of the feud between her mother and grandmother?

4. Do you think Angela is capable of murder? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,242 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample