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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. Why was Agent Dewey unable to sleep while working on the Clutter case?

2. Where is the small drugstore that is described in part one of In Cold Blood?

3. Why was a passing stranger considered a suspect in the Clutter murders?

4. Which individual was a rodeo-performer at one time?

5. Where did Smith and Hickock meet Otto?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Hickock find his and Smith's destination, the Clutter house, on the night of the murders?

2. Where did the townsfolk go to vent about the murder in their small town?

3. How long did Smith and Hickock wait for their execution?

4. In what way does Capote set the scene in Part 1 of In Cold Blood?

5. Why did Mr. Ewalt have to drive back to Susan's apartment to call the Sheriff about the Clutter murders?

6. What characteristic did Willie-Jay and Richard Hickock both see in Perry Smith?

7. Why did Smith give Mrs. Meier an old photograph of himself when he was sixteen?

8. With whom did Herb Clutter meet on the last day of his life, and what was the purpose of this meeting?

9. Why did Hickock make a shiv in jail, and what did he hope to do with it?

10. Where did Smith and Hickock find their next stolen car, a 1956 Chevrolet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the problem or main conflict existing for Smith within this book. Explain in detail how this conflict was or was not resolved.

Essay Topic 2

Capote often claimed in interviews that he had perfect recall. Write an essay on the idea of perfect recall. Do you believe it exists? Do you believe Capote had perfect recall? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

What was the most important event in this book? Explain and justify your choice with specific details from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 680 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample