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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. How many years earlier had that death taken place?

2. What is the surname of the new head of the CIA?

3. What item of Marco's is missing?

4. Marco quickly made his way to which location?

5. Where does Marco meet up with his new tutor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What incident happens that results in an injury to Francesca? What does Backman do to help?

2. Discuss the scene at Francesca's apartment. Who is there? Who is noticeably absent from the scene?

3. Who is Susan Penn? What is her role in the story? What information does she give to the President?

4. At this point in the story what is Backman's biggest obstacle to going out on his own?

5. How does Backman manage to contact Neal now that the smartphone has been stolen? What is Backman's main concern regarding the theft?

6. What is Backman's most prized possession at this point? What happens to the item?

7. What is Francesca's part in Backman's escape plan? Is it a good plan?

8. Discuss Backman's tour with Francesca. What does Backman see?

9. What happens when Neal receives the letter from his father? What does Neal do next? What does Lisa think of the plan?

10. What other groups are interested in Backman? Which group is not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The US government strikes more than one deal with Backman. The first is a pardon with the hopes that Backman will confess to the whereabouts of JAM. The plan fails. The second and biggest deal involves Backman's freedom and safety in exchange for the JAM computer disks. Discuss Backman's deals with the government. Who made the deals on behalf of the government? Who gave the deal maker authorization? Why and how was the first deal flawed? What should have been done differently? Why is the government allowed to pardon Backman if he committed a federal crime? Why does the US government make the second deal? Do you think Backman is deserving of either deal? Explain. If the government made the last deal with Backman, why does Backman doubt his safety? Why does Backman think that the government will continue to track and perhaps try to kill him? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Write a short story from the point of view of Joel Backman 5 years from now. Where do you think Backman will be? Will he remain in Italy? Will he return to the US as promised? Will Backman ever start up the lobbying firm? Also examine Backman's future family relationships and interaction with Francesca.

Essay Topic 3

John Grisham uses a great deal of technical information regarding JAM, Neptune, and other intricate matters. Grisham states, however, that he has little to know knowledge of these things or satellites, smartphones, etc. How do you think Grisham got the information he needed to write the book? Were there any glaring technical errors in the book? Why not write about familiar subjects? Why is law Grisham's forte? What type of experts might have been used to help with research or the editing phase of the project? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,124 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample