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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. Who does Adam find a note from on the counter when he arrives home?

2. Who chooses the journalists names randomly from a bucket to be present at Sam's execution?

3. How many days is it before Lee emerges from her alcoholic binge, refreshed and sober again?

4. Where do Adam and Lee decide to spend their weekend together at the beginning of Chapters 26-29?

5. Who is the prison warden?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is happening outside of Parchman Prison as the execution of Sam Cayhall gets closer?

2. Explain the preparations for Sam for the last two days prior to his execution.

3. Both Lee and Adam have news for each other. What is the news they share with each other?

4. What was the purpose of Adam's trip to New Orleans?

5. Where and how does Adam react, or want to react, when he sees Lee?

6. Why does Adam believe it would be a good idea to visit Marvin Kramer's family?

7. Who is Carmen and what does she see as she visits Sam for the first time?

8. Lee shares childhood memories with Adam. Lee shares the story of her brother, Eddie, and her grandfather, Sam, with Joe and Qunice Lincoln. Who are these people and how do they play such a vivid memory in Lee's past?

9. How does Governor McAllister agree to clemency for Sam?

10. Explain how law students are helping to execute Adam's plan set up by Garner Goodman.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sam Cayhall changed from his character at the beginning of the novel to a different character at the end of the novel. How does Grisham show a character transformation of Sam Cayhall from the beginning of the novel to the end? Use specific examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

As part of the execution procedure, Sam, the death row inmate, has to have many things happen on the day prior to his execution. What are the things, according to the procedures, that Sam must have happen and what are the choices that Sam receives within the day? What will Sam choose to make his last day his?

Essay Topic 3

Philip Naifeh and George Nugent are the superintendent and assistant superintendent, respectfully, of Parchman Prison. Each of these men holds a different stance toward running the prison and the execution process of death row inmates. What are the similarities and differences between these two individuals regarding how they run the prison, their organizational skills, the way they run the execution process, and the way they feel toward the execution process? Do inmates feel the same way toward these individuals? How can you tell? Give examples from the novel to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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