View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the tattoo on one man's chest?

2. About what does Dave question Robin?

3. Upon whom does Dave reflect while at church?

4. Why were two men who the INS arrested quickly released?

5. For whom does Keats occasionally work?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who calls Dave and what does he want?

2. Why does Dave visit Robin?

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

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

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

6. What does Dave learn when he sees Dautrieve the day after the bayou incident?

7. What do Dave and Annie witness as they are about to have lunch?

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

9. What does Dave find when he dives down?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss. Be sure to include specific examples to illustrate the theme you are discussing. How do specific characters help illustrate the theme? Would this novel be different without the theme? How? Is the theme one that could be considered universal? Why or why not :

1. Trace and analyze the theme of violence.

2. Trace and analyze the theme of murder.

3. Trace and analyze the theme of betrayal.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 3, Alafair's story is brutally graphic and presented at some length, but has no involvement with the remainder of the plot. Discuss the following:

1. Briefly summarize what Alafair tells Dave and Annie through and interpreter. Does her story sound authentic? Why do you think Burke goes into Alafair's story to great detail but it really is not relevant to the rest of the book? Is he setting her up to become a regular character in future novels? Why or why not?

2. Do you think a six-year-old is cognizant enough to offer a brutal and graphic description of her former life? If so, is she capable of understanding what she is relating? What emotional repercussions do you think Alafair will suffer from the time in her previous country?

3. Do you think Dave should keep Alafair after Annie's death? Does he have the emotional capability to give Alafair what she needs--after all, Alafair has suffered much emotional trauma in her few short years and may need professional help and a stable home. Can Dave provide both?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 10, Romero calls Dave and says that he has cut a deal with Federal agents, except that Dave's refusal to come on board has stalled the process. Romero says that Dave must help him with the plea bargain or pay the consequences. Discuss the following:

1. What consequences do you think Romero has in mind?

2. Do you think it is wise and/or ethical for the government to cut a deal with Romero when he is threatening to commit another crime (i.e. the murder of Dave and/or a loved one of Dave's)?

3. Are plea bargains ethical in general? Fair? Necessary? What alternatives are there to plea bargains?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,203 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample