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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. Why is Jason Blair unhappy with Esperanza in Chapter Twenty Nine?

2. What does Dimonte say Sidney Bowman spends most of his spare time doing?

3. Why does Cole Whitman say that Greg Downing could not have killed Carla?

4. Which of the following statements does not describe Marty Felder?

5. Who delights Big Cyndi in Chapter Twenty Three by asking for her phone number?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how Win determines Clip Arnstein is lying about knowing Sally or Carla.

2. Is there any evidence in the novel that Myron might still have feelings for Emily Downing?

3. What facts in Chapter Twenty Two make Esperanza think Clip Arnstein knows more about Greg Downing's disappearance and Liz Gorman's murder than he has revealed?

4. In Chapter Twenty Four, what does Clip Arnstein admit to knowing about Sally/Carla and her relationship with Greg Downing?

5. How does Cole Whiteman describe the murder that the Raven Brigade has been in hiding for since the Sixties?

6. Does Myron's meeting with Marty Felder in Chapter Twenty Eight solve any of the puzzles he's investigating or does it deepen the mysteries surrounding Greg Downing?

7. How does Myron think Leon White's wife, Fiona, might be involved with Greg Downing?

8. Explain how Esperanza handles Jason Blair's contract negotiations with the Red Sox and what her handling of the situation demonstrates about her character.

9. Why does Greg hide out at TC Collins' house?

10. Why does Myron take Audrey with him to meet the blackmailer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harlan Cohen uses a number of red herrings or false clues in Fade Away to make it seem as if the mystery is going in a certain direction, then he surprises the reader when the mystery actually goes in a totally different direction. Cite at least three examples of red herrings from the novel and discuss how Cohen uses this technique to increase the suspense and heighten the dramatic tension in the story.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the humor in Fade Away. What characters and other aspects of the novel contribute to the novel's humorous tone? In what ways do you think humor strengthens the plot or characterization in the novel? Is humor a typical or atypical component of a mystery novel? Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

What are the major themes of this novel? Discuss at least three. Tell what you think the author is trying to say about each theme and how he depicts it. Cite examples from the text to support your arguments.

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