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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 is Margery to have the money in a book bag?

2. Of what will Margery not approve?

3. How many deputies are determined will be needed?

4. Who is the overweight cop at the table?

5. Does Kevin seem like the kind of kid who would take his pet without taking something to carry the animal in and something to feed it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Has Kevin ever run away before?

2. Who is in the Bartlett home?

3. What do Healy, Trask, and Spenser discuss?

4. Who has come to Spenser's office? Why are they there?

5. What is in the coffin?

6. On what does Spenser fill Susan in?

7. What does Spenser realize about Susan? What does he do about this? What is her response?

8. Why has Kevin never received psychiatric counseling?

9. How well has Healy overseen the set up of the stakeout?

10. What is learned about Vic? What happens when Vic and Spenser meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Spenser has a sense of humor and is very sarcastic.

Part 1) Describe Spenser's sense of humor and sarcasm. How does it affect his relationships?

Part 2) How does his humor and sarcasm help him in his investigative work?

Part 3) How does this humor and sarcasm affect the reader, one's engagement in the book? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Spenser gains many clues through Vic.

Part 1) How does he encounter Vic? How does he prepare for these encounters?

Part 2) What clues does he receive through Vic? How are these clues significant?

Part 3) Are any of these clues necessary for finding Kevin? If so, which ones and why? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

Spenser fights Vic.

Part 1) Why does he fight Vic? Do the Bartletts need his help at this point? Why or why not?

Part 2) How is Spenser able to beat Vic? What does this reveal about Spenser?

Part 3) How do other details previously mentioned in the story lead the reader to understand how Spenser was able to beat Vic?

Part 4) How might the other characters involved feel about Spenser winning? Why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 880 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample