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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 do Qwilleran's words and manner affect Miss Duckworth?

2. What crime does Qwilleran try to solve?

3. What does everyone notice about C. C. Cobb's personality?

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

5. Why is the area called Junktown?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Qwilleran happen to get an invitation to Mary Duckworth 's place his first night in his apartment?

2. Explain the deciding factor for Qwilleran to take the apartment.

3. What happens to Qwilleran as he leaves Ben Nicolas' shop?

4. Discuss the relationship between Qwilleran and his cats.

5. What is Riker's advice to Qwilleran after he tells the editor about the mysterious circumstances surrounding Andy's death?

6. After feeding the cats, what disappoints Qwilleran?

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

8. Describe the character of C. C. Cobb.

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

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

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 "The Value of Mystery Novels as Escapism in Literature". Define escapism, point out how mystery stories put readers into situations they are unlikely to experience in real life, and compare mystery stories to word games and puzzles as a diversion.

Essay Topic 2

In two or more type written double spaced pages, write an essay on "Lilian Jackson Braun as a Mystery Writer". Select three or more elements of style (e.g., vocabulary, literary tools such as similes and metaphors, and/or building suspense at the end of a chapter to keep the pages turning. Discuss your selections in detail, and give your opinion as to Braun's effectiveness with these elements.

Essay Topic 3

In two or more type written double spaced pages, write an essay on "Why I Thought [another character] Was the Murderer". Braun cleverly intersperses enough red herrings that almost any of the characters might have been the murderer. Pick out one other than Ben Nicolas and detail the mystery around that character that pointed to his or her possible guilt.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 731 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample