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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 does Iris categorize Miss Duckworth since Glanz's death?

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

3. What is the gossip about the finial?

4. Whose name does Miss Duckworth supply to Qwilleran?

5. How does Miss Duckworth explain Andrew Glanz's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Qwilleran learn more about Mary Duckworth?

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

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

4. How does Iris Cobb evaluate Andy Glanz?

5. When Qwilleran sees Mary again, why is see cool and distant like she was when he first met her?

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

7. Discuss the relationship between Qwilleran and his cats.

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

9. What is the apartment like that Iris shows Qwilleran?

10. Explain the development arising from the urgent barking of Mary's dog.

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 "Murder Mysteries Set Before the 21st Century". You may want to use example of writers beside Braun (e.g., Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Ellery Queen, etc.) to discuss how clues and reasoning provide the solutions to the mysteries as opposed to DNA samples and other modern day crime solving techniques.

Essay Topic 3

In two or more type written double spaced pages, write an essay on Braun's Use of Red Herrings in "The Cat Who Turned On and Off". Red herrings are stock in trade for mystery writers who put them in the plot to keep the reader guessing. Find at least three red herrings in the novel and explain how they are used to make the reader suspect different characters of actually being the murderer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 742 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample