View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of Dr. Lorrimer's home?

2. To whose car are the tire tracks matched?

3. What is Anglela's seeming attitude towards Dr. Lorrimer?

4. Who does Dalgliesh meet outside Mr. Lorrmier's home?

5. Why is Mr. Bidwell interviewed?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Dalgliesh sum up his investigation so far at the end of the first day?

2. Where does Brenda work the day after the discovery of the murder and what does she discuss with Director Howarth?

3. What does Dalgliesh ask Domenica and Howarth and what astounds the detectives with Domenica's reply?

4. What does Bradley tell Dalgliesh when questioned about the vomit?

5. What does Dalgliesh find during his search of the chapel?

6. Why is Brenda Pridmore's mother upset and what does she want Brenda to tell Dalgliesh?

7. What does Angela Foley do when she learns of Stella's death and what does Dalgliesh believe about the death?

8. What does Dalgliesh learn from Miss Willard?

9. Describe Inspector Doyle.

10. What do the detectives from in a locked drawer in Dr. Lorrimer's room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book. Discuss the following:

1. Name two ideas/concepts you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze those ideas throughout the book and discuss whether you think P.D. James has an agenda concerning those ideas.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Death of an Expert Witness, like many murder/mystery novels ends on an unhappy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many people want what they perceive as a happy ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Death of an Expert Witness and whether or not this book fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Death of an Expert Witness is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. State what you think are three characteristics of a successful novel and whether or not Death of an Expert Witness in your opinion is a successful novel. Give specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,275 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample