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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 gives John goose bumps at the end of Chapter 6?

2. Why doesn't John want to tell Beth of his discoveries about the Gordons' finances when she calls in Chapter 6?

3. Why did John decide to become a detective?

4. What security clearance does John receive on Plum Island, in Chapter 10?

5. What part of the fort on Plum Island is still in use?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe the appearance of Paul Stevens.

4. Why does John decide to meet Detective Penrose to talk with the man from the Department of Agriculture?

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

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

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

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

9. When Elizabeth tries to ask John about what he knows about the case in Chapter 5, what does he ask her about instead?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the strongest literary tools employed by DeMille in Plum Island is the use of foreshadowing. Give examples of where DeMille has employed foreshadowing and discuss in detail how this use of foreshadowing furthered the plot, developed character, or strengthened a theme.

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

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?

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