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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. When John is meeting with the other officials in the Gordons' kitchen in Chapter 4, what does he drink?

2. What does John find unique about Tom and Judy's office on Plum Island?

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

4. According to Dr. Zollner, what is the Department of Agriculture the animal equivalent of?

5. What clue did Max find that led him to think the Gordons had arrived home only shortly before they were murdered?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why doesn't John answer the questions from George Foster about his relationship with the Gordons in Chapter 4?

3. Describe the appearance of Donna Alba.

4. Describe the appearance of Paul Stevens.

5. When John sees the pig dying of African swine fever in Chapter 12, what does it remind him of?

6. What did the Gordons tell Margaret Wiley they planned to do with the land they purchased from her?

7. Why does Max want to bring John on as a consultant in the Gordon case?

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

9. What hobby had the Gordons taken up on Plum Island that involved Paul Stevens?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the preface, DeMille quote Benjamin Franklin, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead." Later in the novel, Beth also quotes this line. Discuss how this quote is a metaphor for the novel using specific textual evidence.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

There are several romantic couples depicted in Plum Island including: Tom and Judy Gordon, John and Emma, John and Beth, Tobin and Emma, etc. Selecting at least two different couples, compare and contrast these relationships. Point out similarities and differences and what those details infer about the characters in those relationships.

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