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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 many characters are shown at the beginning of Section 9?

2. Who does the Captain use as an example when trying to prove the don used corrupt building contracts in Section 9?

3. What does the don say the man claiming he used corrupt building contracts has done to pay him back at the end of Section 9?

4. Whose confession does the Captain show the don during an interrogation in Section 9?

5. Who do the police arrest next after the first arrest in Section 6?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does the captain decide not to interview a farmer he meets in Section 8?

4. Why does Pizzuco tell the police he didn't come to them with information regarding Salvatore's murder at the end of Section 7?

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

6. What is the nature of the police's first interrogation of Pizzuco in Section 6 of the book?

7. What is the nature of Marchica and Pizzuco's testimonies in Section 10?

8. How does the wife of the high-ranking minister known as "His Excellency" react when he answers a phone call in Section 8?

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

10. What do the two men talking at the beginning of Section 9 decide to do for Marchica?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the author's use of both psychological themes alongside realistic observations. How does the author's mixing of these two methods add complexity to the story and what are you able to learn after being given these two observations?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the important role religion played in the lives of the mafia members in the book. Why do you think the mafia chose to stress such importance on religion given their violent and unethical actions in every aspect of their lives?

Essay Topic 3

The leading theme throughout the book is the discovery and battle of right versus wrong. Part 1.) What appears to be the author's overall message regarding the nature of the battle between right and wrong based on the outcome of the book? Part 2.) Is there a possibility of those fighting for what is right to beat out those encouraging what is wrong, and if so how could this be achieved? Part 3.) What appears to be the captain's next step in fighting for right to overcome wrong based on his thoughts at the end of the book?

(see the answer keys)

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