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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. Where does Bill find Sam's body?

2. How many days does Bill stay in his secret place to the north?

3. To where does Bill drive himself, Ronny's estranged, and her kid in chapter 11?

4. What is left for Bill in the office in chapter 16?

5. Who goes out with Bill to the tornado bunker?

Short Essay Questions

1. What offer does Ronny Lawton make to Bill over and over about his estranged wife? What is Bill's response?

2. How does Bill feel about his unfolding destiny by the end of the story?

3. Describe how Bill reacts after finding Ronny Lawton's father's head in the bunker.

4. How do Ed and Sam react when Bill shows them the letter he has deciphered?

5. How does Bill and Ronny Lawton's relationship change from the beginning of the story up to the hostage situation?

6. How did Bill feel after finding Sam dead in his home? Why?

7. Explain what Walter thinks of the Ronny Lawton situation.

8. How does Linda Carter make Ronny Lawton seem in her television special?

9. Describe what Ronny's estranged wife's boyfriend is like.

10. How is Bill treated when he is taken in for questioning about Ronny Lawton's disappearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Bill, Ed, and Sam agree to go out to the hurricane bunker together they do it for their own motives. The excitement they feel is only temporary. Their feelings change once they realize the seriousness of the situation.

Write an essay that explains why the men wanted to go to the bunker without notifying the authorities. Were their reasons selfish? How did going into the bunker effect the investigation? How did going into the bunker effect the characters? Reference the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Sam meets an end that is both tragic and pitiful. He never gets to live the retired life he dreamed of. His death occurs suddenly and without provocation.

Write an essay explaining why Sam chose to die as he did. What events in the book foreshadow his death? What actions were taken by Sam that might have seemed suspicious? Did Bill and Ed see Sam as someone who was suicidal? Reference the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

After escaping from Ronny Lawton's house Bill takes Teri and Lucas to his cottage. Bill loves how isolated the cottage is from the outside world. He reflects upon the memories he and his father had there.

Write an essay exploring Bill's feelings about the cabin and how they tie in to the memories of his father. What activities did he and his father do while staying at the cabin? What sort of food did they eat? How did Bill feel when his father left him alone days at a time while they were there? Reference the novel to support your points.

(see the answer keys)

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