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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 was Clarice's father's true profession?

2. Buffalo Bill has how many known victims?

3. Why did Clarice get angry with Jack Crawford at the funeral home?

4. Dr. Lecter tells Clarice that Buffalo Bill wants to change into a woman. What does Dr. Lecter claim that Buffalo Bill is doing to attain that goal?

5. When the roll-up door gets stuck, how does Clarice open it far enough for her to get under?

Short Essay Questions

1. Though Dr. Lecter does not believe the senator's offer is genuine because Crawford would never allow Dr. Lecter to benefit, for what does Dr. Lecter agree to offer his cooperation in exchange for, and how does he begin collecting on the proposal immediately?

2. Do you think Clarice sees Crawford as a father figure? Why or why not?

3. In response to their agreement in Chapter 25, what details does Dr. Lecter reveal about Buffalo Bill?

4. What were the circumstances surrounding Benjamin Raspail's death? What was his actual cause of death?

5. In Chapter 18, Crawford explains that he wants Clarice to talk to Dr. Lecter again. Why?

6. How does Clarice display her attention to detail while examining the victim's body in Chapter 12?

7. What creature does Clarice compare Dr. Chilton to and why?

8. What does Dr. Chilton do to thwart the FBI and insert himself into the Catherine Martin investigation?

9. In Chapter 27, what does Chilton tell Dr. Lecter about the FBI to instill doubt in their honesty with Dr. Lecter?

10. What does Crawford think about Dr. Lecter's eerily accurate prediction that the girl would be scalped? How does Crawford feel about Dr. Lecter's other, unsubstantiated prediction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jack Crawford's wife, Bella, is dying. He is consumed with guilt about her illness and his inability to be with her at all times. How does Crawford manifest this guilt in his work? Do you think his pursuit of Buffalo Bill is intensified because of this guilt? Explain why or why not, using references from the book to support your choice.

Essay Topic 2

One theme of this book is control and the loss or lack of it. Which characters seem to have control over their own situations, if any? Which characters are defined by their lack of control, and how do they work to gain control? Does control seem to be important to the FBI? The senator? Jame Gumb? Dr. Chilton? Clarice? Dr. Lecter? Jack Crawford? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is used several times throughout the novel. Where do you see foreshadowing being used? What events are being foreshadowed? Why do you think Thomas Harris chose these events to foreshadow? Is the technique effective? How?

(see the answer keys)

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