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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 8, when he returned after his respite after breakfast, what does Patty ask him?
(a) Whether he had decided if he would stay with them and take the job or not.
(b) Whether he was married.
(c) Whether he was lonely.
(d) Whether he wanted lunch.

2. What is Patty's reasoning for being married?
(a) To keep her from being lonely.
(b) To have a father for Paul.
(c) To get power and money.
(d) To have a stable home life.

3. What is Spenser's response to Patty's "plan" in Chapter 7?
(a) He politely declines the job, and gives her the name of an associate more suited for that type of work.
(b) He asks her to put him on permanent retainer.
(c) He agrees, but acknowledges that guarding them is only a temporary solution.
(d) He tells her that it will not work, and that they must think of something else.

4. What new character is introduced in Chapter 6?
(a) Susan.
(b) Hawk.
(c) Buddy.
(d) Harry.

5. In Chapter 3, what does the man keep calling the narrator?
(a) Buddy.
(b) Jack.
(c) Pal.
(d) Spenser.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Patty leaves for New York, what does Paul do?

2. In what month does the story begin?

3. In Chapter 10, Spenser says that he did not mind Patty's idea of fancy cooking; but that there was something that he did mind. What was it?

4. In Chapter 4, what does the passenger say about the narrator's muscles?

5. In Chapter 10, Spenser tells Patty that he can put her in touch with the feminist writer, Rachel Wallace. Patty responds that feminist theory is all well and good on paper, but that it is not successful in reality. Spenser asks her what the term, successful means in the "real world"; and Patty's response is:

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 8, Patty makes breakfast for herself and Spenser after Spenser drops Paul off at school. During breakfast the two of them get into a somewhat heated discussion about the roles of men and women in life, as well as their places in society. What are Patty's views on the topic as shown by that discussion?

2. In Chapter 6 we are introduced to Spenser's girlfriend, Susan Silverman. What type of a person does she seem to be, and how does that contrast or compliment Spenser's personality?

3. In Chapter 12 we meet Hawk. What kind of a person does Hawk appear to be?

4. In April, after Mel's thugs try to kidnap Paul, Patty Giacomin calls Spenser for help once again. This time, she asks Spenser to protect her and Paul. Why does Patty desperately call Spenser when she experiences trouble with her ex-husband in relation to her son?

5. Do you think that it was wise for Spenser to have entered Giacomin's house the way that he did?

6. What type of person does Patty Giacomin seem to be?

7. What does Spenser's rescue plan for Patty and Paul along with its execution show us about yet another part of Spenser's personality?

8. What type of person does Mel Giacomin appear to be?

9. In Chapter 10, Patty propositions Spenser, who politely rejects her advances. The two have a fairly lengthy discussion about the event, during which we learn more about Patty's feelings of self worth. What are those feelings?

10. In Chapter 11, Spenser and Paul have a discussion about why Spenser did not shoot the intruders. What does Spenser tell Paul about his reluctance to shoot Buddy and Harold?

(see the answer keys)

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