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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 time did the police department receive the call about the Gordons' murder?

2. What local society did the Gordons belong to?

3. What is the name of the fingerprinting specialist working the Gordon crime scene?

4. What recent disease was caught by humans from animals, and was being studied on Plum Island?

5. What time does John wake up, in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. What quality of Max's does John admire after he hears him on the seven o'clock news in Chapter 7?

2. Describe the appearance of Dr. Zollner.

3. What advice does John give to Sally Hines about the crime scene?

4. According to Dr. Zollner, what was the job description of the Gordons?

5. Describe John's appearance as he sits on the porch at the opening of the novel.

6. Why were Tom and Judy Gordon sometimes mistaken for celebrities?

7. Why does John suspect that Dr. Chen has been coached in her responses?

8. Why doesn't John think that the Gordons would sell biological warfare materials?

9. Describe the Gordons' house.

10. What is interesting to John and Beth about the type of weapons Stevens and his security forces carry on Plum Island?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Plum Island, John Corey serves as an archetypal hero character. Using specific examples from the text, identify how DeMille connotes the Hero archetype. Is it an effective connotation? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In Plum Island, DeMille highlights several different strong female figures who go outside of the norm of typical gender roles; for example, Beth and Emma. Using at least two main characters from the novel, discuss what commentary DeMille is making about gender roles.

Essay Topic 3

Duty is a theme throughout Plum Island. Discuss three different character's views of duty and how they are exhibited by their statements and actions. Based on these accounts of duty, does DeMille create an overarching definition of what duty is?

(see the answer keys)

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