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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. Who does Melinda accuse of killing De Lisle?

2. What is Vic's daughter making for him that she is proud of?

3. What does Melinda suffer from at the Cowans' party?

4. What ethnic background does Horace Meller think the new pianst is?

5. Who comes to the house after the alarm is raised about De Lisle's drowning?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What kind of employee is Stephen Hines?

4. How does Vic kill De Lisle?

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

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

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

8. What does Vic tell Ralph about his own past?

9. What does Vic do for a living?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How would you describe Highsmith's tone and language throughout this novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Highsmith handle the topic, overall, of deception? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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