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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 long does the case of the McRae murder go unsolved?

2. How old is Victor Van Allen?

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

4. Who does Vic tell Melinda he thinks she is seeing too much of?

5. What is one thing Melinda likes doing for others, in Vic's opinion?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Vic think of Melinda's piano playing?

3. What had Vic hoped might change with his spreading a bad rumor about himself?

4. How does Vic realize Melinda is seeing Charley De Lisle?

5. Who does most of the housework in the Van Allen household, and why?

6. In Part II, what shatters the rumor Vic told about himself?

7. What does Horace Meller tell Vic in Part II he is happy for Vic about?

8. What is the sleeping arrangement at Vic's and Melinda's house?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What specific behaviors or conversations does Highsmith employ to convey to the reader the nature of Vic's treachery? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

How does Highsmith use the character Trixie to highlight or explain certain aspects of Vic's character? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 492 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample