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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. Who is eventually charged with Nicolosi's murder in Section 10?

2. What do the girls Captain Bellodi and his friend meet in Section 10 believe heats the blood of Sicilian people?

3. According to the first confession the police hear in Section 7, who offers Marchica money for Colasberna's murder?

4. Who helps the police retrieve Nicolosi's body in the book?

5. What country does the Captain wish Italy would adopt laws from that would allow more mafia members to be arrested?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Grimoli Chiarchiaro first described in the book?

2. What is the captain's initial impression of the Grimoli Chiarchiaro?

3. What is the nature of the conversation between two men regarding Captain Bellodi in Section 8?

4. What does the captain do after the mafia get away with murder in Section 10?

5. What does the captain say to Marchica while he watches Pizzuco being interrogated?

6. How does Pizzuco react when the police show him Marchica's confession?

7. What is the nature of the confession the police show to Marchica in Section 6?

8. How does Pizzuco claim Marchica fooled him into helping him get away with murder?

9. What are the two men talking at the beginning of Section 9 worried about?

10. How does Don Arena react when police mention his daughter during his interrogation in Section 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The portrayal of class is an important theme developed by the author to showcase the vast gap between those of influence and the commoner. Part 1.) How does it appear that the mafia keeps the unfair balance between the upper and lower classes intact in the book? Part 2.) What can we learn about the nature of those in the upper class based on the conversations of unnamed high-ranking officials throughout the book? Part 3.) What evidence is present to suggest that those in the lower class are making efforts to better their situations based on their portrayal in the book?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the nature of the police that is presented in the book. How might the police be considered as bad as the mafia given the way they conduct Salvatore's murder investigation and why is this significant in regards to better understanding human nature in the book?

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