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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 happens to a medic that begins treating sick patients rather than members of the mafia according to Captain Bellodi's story in Section 10?

2. Who is concluded to have been involved in the murders Bellodi has been investigating at the end of Section 8?

3. According to the first confession the police hear in Section 7, who disposes of the murder weapon?

4. Who brings the captain a confession in his office to allow the prisoner watching the interrogation to see?

5. How many murders does the confession the police show Marchica blame on him?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How do the police obtain a murder confession to show Marchica in Section 6?

3. How does the farmer the captain meets in Section 8 describe the meaning of his dog's name?

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

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

6. How do the women the captain meet in Parma feel about Sicily?

7. How does the captain try and prove the don had connection to corrupt building projects in Section 9?

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 Marchica claim was the reason Pizzuco asked to have Salvatore killed?

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

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

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

Examine the symbolic meaning of the owl that is presented in the book. Why do you think the author chose to name his book "The Day of the Owl", especially considering the speech he makes about owls in Section 8 of the book?

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