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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 do two police officers have on their clothes, which causes someone to think the Santorellis might have been harmed?

2. What is the name of the professor who wrote the psychology book Moore studies?

3. Who says, "A little hard on the girl, weren't you Kreizler?"

4. What does Moore do for a living?

5. What is the name of Kreizler's housekeeper?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Moore wake up in a strange place in Chapter 12?

2. Why is Sara concerned for the safety of the Santorellis?

3. What does Roosevelt give Moore on March 3, 1896 at the watchtower?

4. What is the crime scene discovered on March 3, 1896?

5. How do Moore and Kreizler begin reminiscing about the murder case that makes up the stories narrative?

6. What does Moore learn from one of Giorgio's friends about his murder?

7. Why does Kreizler want Moore to meet him at Bellevue the day after they find the first body?

8. How does Kreizler treat Mary when the team arrives back at their headquarters after visiting the scene of the second boy prostitute murder?

9. What does Marcus discover when examining the scene of the murder of the second boy prostitute?

10. Why does Sara express concern for Kreizler in Chapter 19?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the theme of evil used in "The Alienist". What seems to be the idea of the notion of evil as portrayed in the book? What does Kreizler seem to feel about the idea of evil? What does it seem like the author is saying about the nature of evil?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the use of secondary characters in the story. Why do you think there are so many secondary characters in the novel? What tone do they create? Why do you think the author introduces them all so soon in the narrative? What purpose might this serve?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the instance in the novel when Kreizler finally gets to interrogate the killer. What sorts of questions does Kreizler ask the killer? How does the killer respond to the questions? What techniques does the author use to portray the attitudes of both Kreizler and the killer? How does Kreizler seem to feel about the responses he receives?

(see the answer keys)

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