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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 does the high-ranking minister react when he hears one of his ministers might have mafia connections in Section 8?

2. What kind of projects does the Captain point out that the don has been involved with at the end of Section 9?

3. How does Captain Bellodi feel about the area he searches for Nicolosi's body?

4. What does a man reveal to a high-ranking minister will be on the front page of a newspaper at the beginning of Section 8?

5. Which of the following realizations does Captain Bellodi not have regarding the murder trial after returning to his hometown in Section 10?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the nature of Dr. Baccarella's testimony in Section 10?

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

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

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

7. How does the author say Marchica feels about going to prison in Section 7?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's portrayal of politics in the book, namely his discussions on fascism, communism and socialism. What role does politics appear to be playing in Sicilian society at the time this book was written and what does the author appear to feel towards politics?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the nature of power that is portrayed in the book, namely in regards to the police and the mafia. How do these two groups seek and use power differently and similarly? What does this use of power tell us about the nature of each organization?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 763 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample