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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 has Helen Laski been spotted?

2. Who do the police hope will lead them to the men for whom they are searching?

3. Who is Cindy?

4. Whose responsibility is the situation in the wire report?

5. Where does the situation in the wire report take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dan do after Robish opens the front door?

2. What finally pushes Griffin over the edge?

3. What does Carson tell Bard about his behavior?

4. What does Griffin make clear to Cindy and Dan?

5. What raises tensions in the house?

6. What does Hank do when Cindy tries to move?

7. What convinces Griffin to get ready to leave the house?

8. What does Dan convince the police to do?

9. What does Griffin do after Ralphie runs away? How does Dan respond?

10. What does Ralphie do when he comes home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Back at the sheriff's department, Bard explains that Griffin shot a policeman and he exited his hideout with his hands up with an evil grin on his face, which made Bard hit the crook on the jaw. Carson reminds Bard that that was inappropriate behavior, and Bard just wishes he had killed Griffin when he had the chance.

1. Do you think Bard is justified in hitting Griffin? Would it have been better for Bard to have killed Griffin when he has the opportunity? We only hear Bard's side of Griffin's encounter with Bard but have no way of knowing what prompts Griffin to shoot a policeman. If the policeman had been beating Griffin in a life threatening way, would that have justified Griffin shooting the policeman to save his own life? The fact that Griffin leaves his hostages alive suggests that Griffin is not gratuitously violent. How does this figure in with what Bard reveals about Griffin?

2. How often do you think the police go beyond the bounds of subduing a suspect and into the area of police brutality? Research incidents of alleged police brutality and give specific examples. What do think should happen to police officers who brutalize a citizen?

3. Is there any other better system to maintain order that would work in the United States in lieu of a police force? Discuss possible alternatives to the police system.

Essay Topic 2

During the climatic and final Act 3, both Chuck and Dan have the opportunity to kill one or more of the convicts during all the confusion. Both men choose to hit the convicts rather than shoot to kill. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Why do you think Dan and Chuck do not try to kill the convicts when they separately have the chance?

2. Do you think Griffin would have actually killed Ralphie if the gun had been loaded? Explain your thoughts with examples.

3. Do you think the average non-criminal citizen would have done the same thing as Dan and Chuck, i.e., disable rather than kill? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In Act 1, Hank gets melancholy because he will never have a girl like Cindy or live in a nice house like the Hilliards'. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Do you feel sympathetic towards Hank? Why or why not?

2. Two of the convicts, Hank and Glen, are brothers. Why do you think two brothers both end up as convicts? Do you think they had a difficult upbringing? Would that make any difference in your feelings of sympathy towards either man?

3. Do you think that someone raised in an abusive home is more likely to become a criminal than one raised in a loving home? Discuss your stance, giving examples from research.

(see the answer keys)

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