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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. When Vaughn arrives, for what does he ask?

2. How does Margery respond to this?

3. What does Race say about Vic?

4. What is Vaughn's response to Spenser's questioning regarding Margery?

5. Why does Spenser cut across the woods, arriving at the crest of a hill?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Spenser follows Vic?

2. How does Spenser find the Bartletts when he returns?

3. What happens when they arrive in Boston?

4. What does Margery discover in a package? What does Spenser have to say about this?

5. What happens when Spenser discovers more business cards like the one Fraser had?

6. Why was Maguire at the house? What is Margery's response when asked if she knows of anyone who would want to kill Maguire?

7. What happens when Spenser arrives at the Bartletts' home?

8. How does Dr. Croft act initially when Spenser meets with him?

9. What takes place between Susan and Spenser?

10. What does Spenser learn at the Harbor Health Club?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Margery is known to "screw around."

Part 1) How is this hinted at early in the book?

Part 2) How does her behavior affect her family? Why might she act this way?

Part 3) Will she change now that her son has been returned? Why or why not? Use the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Dr. Croft is hanged by his necktie.

Part 1) Why does this murder occur?

Part 2) How does his inability to keep quiet lead to this?

Part 3) What does this reveal about Trask? How does it help end the mysteries of this case?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,292 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample