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

Short Answer Questions

1. What do the police find in the woods?

2. Why does Dan not want Robish in the house?

3. What is on Griffin's face as he exits his hideout?

4. Who tells Bard that hitting Griffin is inappropriate behavior?

5. When will the money be available?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the very opening of Act 1, one immediate theme of the play is obvious--that of convicts and the penal system of the United States. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Compare and contrast the penal system of the United States during the late-1940s and early-1950s to that of the early-21st century.

2. Answer the following questions after conducting some research: How do convicts manage to occasionally escape from what seems to be a very secure place? What type of prisoners tends to escape? How often do you think convicts escape? Do most escapees today refrain from harming hostages as was the case in this situation in Desperate Hours? Do you think the two brothers (Hank and Glenn) who were ultimately killed deserved death? What about Robish? What should happen to him?

3. Discuss the following questions in a cohesive essay: Do you believe today's prison system is cruel? Why or why not? What do you think is the reason for the high recidivism rate of convicts who are released and end up back in prison fairly quickly? Could the prison system do a better job of truly rehabilitating prisoners? What would that take?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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