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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 does Qwilleran discover when he arrives in Junktown?

2. Whose name does Miss Duckworth supply to Qwilleran?

3. What happens to the drunk Qwilleran saw when he arrived in Junktown?

4. Who does Qwilleran run into at the grocery store?

5. What indicates that the police think Andy's death was just an accident?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way is Mary Duxbury (aka Mary Duckworth) a typical femme fatale in the novel?

2. What is Mary Duckworth's confession to Qwilleran?

3. What does Qwilleran learn about Mary after she has had a couple of glasses of scotch?

4. Describe the character of C. C. Cobb.

5. What startling suggestion does Qwilleran offer Mary regarding Andy's death?

6. How does Patch refute the suggestion that he was fired by Andy Glanz for drinking.

7. What have the policemen concluded about Andy's death?

8. How does Qwilleran learn more about Mary Duckworth?

9. Discuss the relationship between Qwilleran and his cats.

10. How does the author use conversation at the auction to introduce the main complications of the plot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In two or more type written double spaced pages, write an essay on "Why Innocent Characters Must Be Suspects in a Mystery Novel". From Braun's novel, use Hollis Krantz, Iris Cobb, and Mary Duckworth as potential murderers within the novel.

Essay Topic 2

In two or more type written double spaced pages, write an essay on "How to Look for Clues in a Mystery Novel". Using examples from the novel, discuss (1) how important clues such as the pot bellied stove are introduced in a trivial manner, (2) how to spot red herrings like Mary's disturbing phone calls, and (3) how to formulate theories in the same manner the detectives in the novel do.

Essay Topic 3

In two or more type written double spaced pages, write an essay on "Double Standards of Morality". Using Glanz as an example, discuss his double standards from an apparent high moral ground to clandestine sexual affairs, concealing ill-gotten money, and passing moral judgments on others.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 728 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample