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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 kind of biologist is Margo?

2. Whose body was found in the basement of the brownstone?

3. What does Mephisto call rats?

4. What was on the pair of athletic socks found at the site of the first homeless murder?

5. What is D'Agosta's theory about the murders in Chapter 20?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the repercussions of the $100,000 reward posted by Bill Smithback and the Post?

2. What does Pendergast reveal about Hayward? How does Hayward feel about this revelation? How does D'Agosta feel about this revelation?

3. Police work seems to involve a lot of political jostling and brown-nosing. How is that concept illustrated in Chapter 11?

4. What purpose might an evolutionary biologist and a biologist whose specialty is genetics serve to the police in this story?

5. What is the irony in the author's naming the leader of the Route 666 group Mephisto?

6. Why do you think people of so many disciplines are called in to examine the two skeletons found in the river?

7. What is Brambell's theory about what animal is responsible for the teeth marks on Pamela Wisher's bones? How does this change the direction of the investigation?

8. What do you think is the importance of the New York Museum of Natural History to the storyline?

9. What is the basic precept of Frock's theory of fractal evolution? How would it apply to the events taking place in the story?

10. To what does Dr. Frock attribute the Mbwun's existence and its unlikely appearance in New York?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The underground tunnels are a huge part of this story. What kind of mood do the tunnels create? Are they sufficiently creepy for a novel of this genre? Do you think the tunnels and the state of the inhabitants is a statement on the condition of New York City and its inhabitants? Why do you think the author expresses such cynicism through his homeless characters?

Essay Topic 2

Though Dr. Brambell and Dr. Frock disagree often, they do agree on one thing: the skeletons show obvious signs of teeth marks. Compare/contrast their first theories on the teeth marks in the bone, how they got there, and what type of animal might have left them. What do you think is the true source of their contention?

Essay Topic 3

The officers leading this investigation seems simple, weak, demanding and lazy. What point do you think the author was trying to bring across with such characters? Is he making a statement on police leaders in general, or do you think he is trying to make his other characters seem stronger?

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