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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. How does Director Howarth respond to Dalgliesh's question about what Dr. Lorrimer is like outside of work?

2. What does the caller tell Mrs. Bidwell early in the morning?

3. Who is Dr. Kerrison?

4. Why does Mrs. Bidwell not have to do much in Director Howarth's office?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What upsets Director Howarth about Dr. Lorrimer?

2. What does Paul Middlemass tell Dalgliesh and about what does Middlemass lie?

3. What does Brenda Pridmore talk about with her parents at breakfast and what is their reaction?

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

5. What is Howarth doing the night of Dr. Lorrimer's murder and how does he back up his story?

6. What is the situation with Mawson and Foley's need for money and how is Dr. Lorrimer mentioned in regards to money?

7. Describe Angela Foley.

8. Describe Stella Mawson.

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

10. Describe Dr. Kerrison.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of characters who hate and/or dislike Dr. Lorrimer. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss Director Howarth's feelings towards Dr. Lorrimer. Are they reasonable and justified? On what grounds do you think the feelings arise? Do you think Dr. Lorrimer feels the same way towards Director Howarth? Do you think Howarth's feelings towards Dr. Lorrimer are strong enough to lead Howarth to commit murder?

2. Discuss Domenica Schofield's feelings towards Dr. Lorrimer. Are they reasonable and justified? On what grounds do you think the feelings arise? Do she ever care for Dr. Lorrimer? Do you think Domenica's feelings towards Dr. Lorrimer are strong enough to lead her to commit murder?

3. Discuss Cliff Bradley's feelings towards Dr. Lorrimer. Are they reasonable and justified? On what grounds do you think the feelings arise? Why do you think Cliff makes the comments he makes in the library as the staff is awaiting the arrival of Dalgliesh? Do you think Bradley's feelings towards Dr. Lorrimer are strong enough to lead him to commit murder?

Essay Topic 2

Most of the action of the story is based upon the main plot--that of finding Dr. Lorrimer's murderer. However, there are a couple minor sub-plots in the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What is a sub-plot? Do you think most works of fiction have at least one sub-plot? Why or why not?

2. Identify 2 subplots in Death of an Expert Witness. Identify the parts of the sub-plots you examine such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution and whether the sub-plot contains all these elements.

3. What do you think is the purpose of the 2 sub-plots you identify? Discuss with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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