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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. Where does De Lisle work nights?

2. Who is the leatherworker who does all the work on Vic's covers?

3. What does Vic end up getting for Ralph after Ralph wakes up from a night of drinking?

4. What is the name of Vic's business?

5. What does De Lisle say about the water in the pool when he gets in?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Vic want to toy with Mr. Nash in Part I?

2. What does Vic do for a living?

3. Who does Vic dance with at the party in Part II, and why?

4. What is the difference between how Vic and Melinda treat their daughter Trixie?

5. How does Melinda flaunt her affairs?

6. Who finds De Lisle's body and how does this person react?

7. What does Vic tell Mr. Nash in Part I that alarms Nash?

8. How does Vic try to stop Melinda's affair with De Lisle?

9. How does Vic feel during the costume party in Part II?

10. What does Vic often do for Melinda when she is drunk and it is very early in the morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Highsmith describe Vic's state of mind before, during, and after De Lisle's murder? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Vic begin telling people he murdered McRae, and how does his decision to do so affect the course of the plot? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

How does Highsmith describe the general social atmosphere of the Van Allens' town, Little Wesley? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

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