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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. Who is beaten?

2. How many machete killings occur on the second day?

3. What is Meral afraid police officers will do with their hats?

4. How many children does Chicki Holt have?

5. What does Faye plan to do with the sea shells?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the Roses sell guns to Dred?

2. Why might Monkey Dred bring an extra car to the arms deal, despite his earlier agreement with Carrie Rose?

3. What various motivations are ascribed for the murder?

4. What impression does Meral Johnson try to make?

5. Why does the U.S. government want to get rid of the Roses?

6. How is the murder on the beach similar to the murder of Francis Cichoski, and what is the significance of the similarity?

7. Why does Peter think the chances of anyone listening to his story are reduced?

8. Describe the courtroom at the murder trial.

9. Why would Carrie Rose say in her diary that ordinary farmers with machetes caused heart attacks?

10. Who is Francis Cichoski?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss image and identity in the novel.

1) Damian is always using disguises. What psychological reasons might he have for wanting to conceal his identity? What is his true self-image?

2) Carrie disguises herself and uses her image to manipulate those around her. She even lies to Damian. What is her true identity, and does it get lost in her lies?

3) How does the Prime Minister manipulate his political image and identity?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the desire for attention and approval in the novel. How does Damian show his desire for attention and fame (while he is careful to always hide his identity)? Why does Carrie, whose survival depends on people believing she's dead, publish her diary? Why does she desire attention and approval? Why do these characters, who desire attention, commit horrific acts? Can they be compared to children acting out to get attention? Who else in the novel desires attention and approval?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the necessity for violence in the novel. At the end of the novel, Hill thinks that it "never ends." Is violence in the novel an unending cycle that is impossible to escape? The novel indicates that Damian comes from a violent household. Does violence beget violence, in the world just as in individual families? When is violence right or wrong in the novel? Is it necessary to kill Damian Rose at the end of the book? Is it necessary or just to hang the three murderers at the beginning of the book? Is it necessary for Peter to kill Harold Hill?

(see the answer keys)

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