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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. To what pub does Strike go after learning of Charlotte's engagement in Part 4, Chapter 5?

2. What relationship do Strike and Robin pretend to have when they visit Vashti in Part 3, Chapter 4?

3. On what street does Strike watch the hordes of shoppers from his office window in the opening of Part 4, Chapter 4?

4. What surgery had Yvette just had when Lula visited her on the day before her death?

5. Who does Strike say had mentioned that there had been a bit of trouble around the Oates estate in Part 3, Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Marlene Higson, and how is she described when Strike meets her?

2. Who is Spanner and why does Strike meet with him in Part 3, Chapter 7?

3. What is Evan Duffield's alibi for the night that Lula died?

4. Who has been sending Strike death threats? Why?

5. What clues emerge from Strike's meeting with Rochelle in Part 3, Chapter 8?

6. Why did Tansy Bestigui lie about where she was when Lula fell?

7. Who is Tony Landry and how does he come across in Part 3, Chapter 5?

8. What is noted about the body of the deceased in Lula's autopsy file?

9. Where does Robin find Strike after he leaves the office in Part 4, Chapter 5? How is he described when she finds him?

10. How does Robin glean information from the staff at Vashti? What new information does she learn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do Robin and Strike learn when they visit Vashti? How do they gain this information? In what ways does Robin prove herself to be a beneficial assistant to Strike during this visit?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the evidence gathered by Strike from the CCTV surveillance footage. What individuals are observed running from the scene of Lula's fall? Where do these characters go? How does Strike identify them?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of rivalry in The Cuckoo's Calling. How is rivalry (sibling rivalry, friend rivalry, etc.) central to the novel's plot? What characters demonstrate rivalry? How?

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