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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. How does Dave seem to feel among the underworld elements of his city?

2. How many men are in the car?

3. What does Alafair say about her upbringing?

4. Where do Dave and Annie take the girl?

5. In whom was Robin once interested?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Dave ask to watch Annie and the house and give a brief description of the person.

2. What is an indication of Robin's possibly over drinking?

3. How does Dave begin his investigation?

4. Describe Minos P. Dautrieve.

5. Briefly describe Robin Gaddis.

6. What police department did Dave work for and why is he no longer employed there?

7. Who does Dave think about as he is sitting in church and what are his thoughts on the subject?

8. Where does Dave go after a phone call from Batist?

9. What do Dave and Annie do with the young girl they name Alafair?

10. Describe Dave's visit to Bubba.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 9, Dave continues his job but begins to drown in unwanted paperwork. He is good street cop but the administrative side of the job is definitely not his strong point. Discuss the following:

1. What does Dave have to do administratively that is so consuming and onerous for him? What aspects of his personality make this paperwork so difficult for him to deal with?

2. Do you think there should be some way for men and women who are really good beat cops but lousy on paperwork to have assistance with the paperwork aspect of the job? Why or why not?

3. What could be some advantages in filling out paperwork? Disadvantages?

4. Is there too much paperwork in general in the American culture? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

It becomes increasingly obvious that Dave is willing to sacrifice his simple and enjoyable life in order to become involved with the ugly side of life in Louisiana and to set things aright, as he sees it. Discuss the following:

1. Analyze the process of Dave becoming involved, then retreating, then becoming involved, then retreating, etc., and why you think he vacillates so much.

2. Discuss the aspects of Dave's personality that makes it very difficult for him to forget the plane crash.

3. If Dave had stayed away from the plane crash investigation, it is likely Annie would still be alive. How do you think this knowledge impacts Dave? Use specific examples from the story to illustrate your point.

Essay Topic 3

Dave's various flashbacks to Vietnam and life as a young man with his father provide interesting parallels to his current situation. He recalls events because they were morally equivalent to his current situation. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Dave's life as a young man with his father and how those memories are related to the plot of this story. What symbols/metaphors are common to both? What of Dave's feelings are common to both? Does Dave react differently as a grown man than when he was young? How? If not, would you say he has not learned from his life experiences?

2. Trace and analyze Dave's various flashbacks to Vietnam and how those memories are related to the plot of this story. Why symbols/metaphors are common to both? What of Dave's feelings are common to both? Does Dave react differently as an older man than when he was a young man? How? If not, would you say he has not learned from his life experiences?

3. Do you think Burke would have used as many flashbacks in this book had this book not been part of a series? How much do the flashbacks shown in this book affect the current storyline? Do readers need the information presented in the flashbacks to understand the storyline ongoing in the present? Would there be any other way to understand Dave's complex personality without flashbacks? Justify your answers with specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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