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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. What does Little Priest also include on a piece of paper for the police in Section 5 along with some names?

2. How is the driver of the bus described when he is interviewed by the police after the shooting?

3. What is described as the entire network of mafia connections that lives in the shadow of the church?

4. Who does the sergeant major find to be given a nickname due to his love of gambling?

5. Which of the following descriptions does the old man not use to describe the men that don't join the mafia at the beginning of Section 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Little Priest die?

2. How does Little Priest act in public after meeting with police in Section 5?

3. What does an old man decide Marchica should do at the end of Section 4?

4. What do police do after receiving Little Priest's letter in Section 5?

5. What is the nature of the two men's conversation regarding communism at the beginning of Section 3?

6. What is the nature of most of the bus passengers police track down regarding the shooting in Section 1?

7. How do the employees of a sulphur mine react after not being paid for three months?

8. What information do the police first find out regarding Salvatore after his identity is discovered?

9. Why does Little Priest feel guilty at the beginning of Section 5?

10. What is the initial information the police find on Diego Marchica at the end of Section 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author makes a great effort to showcase the true nature of the interrogation throughout the book. Part 1.) What can we learn about the nature of the police based on the way they interrogate witnesses and suspects in the book? Part 2.) What can we learn about the nature of members of the mafia based on their reactions to being interrogated by police in the book? Part 3.) How does the author present a moral dilemma in the book's characters through the portrayal of interrogation?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the nature of the author's choice for the book's layout, namely having the climax comes in the opening scene. How does this make you view the plot differently than you normally would, especially given the fact that there will be no conflict needed to build a climax?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, the author conducts an intense analysis of the true nature of the Sicilian mafia. Part 1.) What role does the mafia play in the dynamic of Sicilian culture based on their portrayal in the book? Part 2.) What evidence is present to suggest that the Sicilian mafia's influence in their region is long-term and not likely to change? Part 3.) What might the author be trying shine light on regarding the Sicilian mafia based on the outcome of the book?

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