View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Ed Hoskin doing at the beginning of chapter 2?

2. What tool does Bill find at Ronny Lawton's estranged wife's place?

3. What type of school does Diane go to?

4. What type of pills does Bill often take throughout the story?

5. How many years have passed since the death of Bill's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. List some of the signs that give evidence to Ed and his illness.

2. Describe what Bill's town was like before all of the factories shut down.

3. What did Ronny Lawton do for his mother when his father refused to take her to the doctor?

4. What are some of the questions Ronny is asked during his lie detector test?

5. Describe the insane scene at Denny's with the teenagers and Ronny.

6. How does Ronny Lawton's estranged wife know Darlene?

7. Describe the final few hours of Bill's father's life.

8. List some of the features offered at the Florida retirement community Sam contemplates in chapter 9.

9. Who does Darlene consider to be her "children" since she has none of her own?

10. Why is Sam always in a state of panic over the paper?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ronny Lawton's father's body is never found. Bill knows it exists somewhere, and he can't ignore that fact.

Write an essay exploring Bill's ideas of extinction and evolution in the context of the story. How does he view the conclusion to the Ronny Lawton case? What do his ideas of extinction and evolution have to do with it? How does he tie these ideas in to the closing of the factories? Reference the novel to support your points.

Essay Topic 2

Darlene is a character that we learn about mostly through other characters. She is portrayed as both confidant and possible villain.

Write an essay exploring what Darlene's true personality is. Is she someone to be trusted? Why or why not? What actions does she take that make her seem one way or another? How does her character impact events throughout the book? Use examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

When Ronny Lawton takes Teri and Lucas hostage he does it after coming back into town and killing Karl. Up until this point there is no concrete proof that Ronny is guilty of anything.

Write an essay explaining why Ronny Lawton takes such drastic actions after coming back into town. What has driven him to this point? Does him killing Karl and taking hostages prove anything about his innocence in other matters? Why or why not? Use examples from the novel to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 852 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample