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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 there no recording of the call?

2. When Spenser goes back to the front and tells Trask what has happened to Croft, how does the police officer appear?

3. How does Spenser respond when Margery asks him to stay?

4. As Spenser hangs up, he looks around and discovers what?

5. What is done with Kevin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Margery dressed at the party?

2. Why does Margery scream?

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

4. What does Spenser discover when he returns to the Bartlett home?

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

6. What do Spenser and the Bartletts do?

7. What happens when Spenser follows Vic?

8. What happens at the Odds' End bar?

9. What happens when Susan arrives at the party?

10. Why does Margery call Spenser?

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

Margery and Roger Bartlett hire Spenser to find their missing son, Kevin.

Part 1) Why do you believe this couple went to a private investigator? How might this case turned out if it had only been the police on this case?

Part 2) Describe Spenser. Is he a good investigator? Why or why not?

Part 3) How does he go about finding Kevin? How does the author show Spenser's investigative process?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 910 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample