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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 happened to Tom Mascalco's fiance in Memphis?

2. What is the name of the deputy whose job it is to take pictures of the scene?

3. Who comes to visit Catherine at the end of Chapter 6?

4. What is the name of Sally Boone's baby?

5. Which of the following does NOT describe Carl Perkins?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Catherine find in the old, abandoned tenant house and what is her reaction?

2. Why do people feel so comfortable confiding their secrets to Catherine? How does Catherine feel about the secrets of the town and being the one they are told to?

3. Do you believe that Catherine's discovery of Tom's body has lessened or heightened Sheriff Galton's suspicion of her? What else in Chapter 11 could contribute to the heightening or lessening of the sheriff's suspicion of Catherine?

4. From the descriptions in Chapter 1, describe where this novel is taking place.

5. Why does Catherine have to go back to the crime scene with the sheriff and what is her reaction?

6. What information does Betty Eakins give to Catherine that could possibly help Catherine solve the crime?

7. What do we learn about the death of Catherine's parents in Chapter 4? How does it connect with Leona Gaites?

8. Why does Catherine decide to solve the crime by herself and not go to the police or Randall for help first?

9. Describe the last time that Catherine talked to Leona Gaites, as she explains it to Sheriff Galton.

10. Why do Randall and Tom both pay Catherine a visit at her house after she comes home from the sheriff's office on the day she finds the body?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This novel is a murder mystery that also has a touch of romance in it, as we see the relationship between Catherine Linton and Randall Gerrard form and grow as the novel progresses. How does the relationship between Catherine and Randall develop? How does the dramatic situation in the novel, the murders and their aftermath, affect their relationship? Why does the author throw a romantic situation into a murder mystery? How do you feel about having a romantic relationship in a murder mystery?

Essay Topic 2

The theme of secrets is a very prevalent and recurring theme in the novel. Identify how this theme is used citing examples from the novel. Why is this theme an important one in the novel? How do the secrets of the townspeople add to the plot of the novel? Why do the people of Lowfield so readily tell their secrets to Catherine? How does she react to these secrets?

Essay Topic 3

The setting of the novel, the small town of Lowfield, is in the southern state of Mississippi. What part do Southern values play in the novel? Can you find a part or parts in the novel where Catherine Linton talks about or gives specific references to things that occur in the South? How does the southern setting of the novel affect its plot, characters and character interactions? Give examples to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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