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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. About what is Howarth relieved?

2. About what can Director Howarth not offer accurate answers?

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

4. Why does Stella hire Angela?

5. What does Mrs. Bidwell explain to Dalgliesh?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Susan Bradley ask of Paul Middlemass and what does he do about the request?

2. Describe Mrs. Bidwell.

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

4. Describe Brenda Pridmore.

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

6. Describe Angela Foley.

7. What does Howarth do after Dalgliesh arrives and what does Dalgliesh learn about the case?

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

9. Describe Dr. Kerrison.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several instances of irony in Death of an Expert Witness. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly define and offer several examples of irony.

2. Find three cases of irony in Death of an Expert Witness. Describe the situation and why you think it is ironic.

3. There is another type of irony called "dramatic irony." Thoroughly define the term "dramatic irony," and find at least one example of it in Death of an Expert Witness and explain why you think it is dramatic irony.

Essay Topic 2

Inspector Adam Dalgliesh is in some ways a larger-than-life hero. Despite incredible odds, he almost always comes solves the crime in this book and in the others in the series. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, is it more admirable to have a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and does not always succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Dalgliesh who you might call a hero/heroine in Death of an Expert Witness and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

It seems that Dr. Kerrison should know a lot about crime and how a detective investigates a crime scene to be able to avoid some of the mistakes he makes that leads to his exposure as the murderer. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze throughout the book all the mistakes Dr. Kerrison makes. Are they stupid mistakes or is Dalgliesh so good that Dalgliesh is able to pick up on very tiny clues?

2. Sometimes it almost seems that a criminal wants to get caught. Do you think this is partially why Dr. Kerrison makes the mistakes he does? Why or why not?

3. Dalgliesh states that Kerrison almost seems relieved when the detectives drive up to arrest him. Why do you think this is?

(see the answer keys)

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