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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. When does Marlowe tell Chess that Kingsley's wife is missing?

2. What happens when Marlowe knocks and rings at Lavery's door?

3. What car does Lavery drive?

4. Who does Marlowe suggest to Miss Fromsett might have killed Lavery, aside from Mrs. Kingsley?

5. Who does Birdie Keppel introduce herself as?

Short Essay Questions

1. What excuse does Bill Chess give for his erratic behavior?

2. How would you characterize the way that Miss Fromsett treats Marlowe?

3. What does Marlowe notice about Lavery's phone?

4. How does Mr. Kingsley feel about his secretary?

5. How does Kingsley act, when Marlowe first meets him?

6. What does Birdie know about Marlowe's identity?

7. How does Marlowe handle his long wait in Kingsley's office lobby?

8. Under what terms does Marlowe accept the offer of five hundred dollars from Kingsley?

9. How does Miss Fromsett describe Florence Almore?

10. What does Marlowe say that they'll have to do to get financial information about Kingsley's wife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the treatment of women and the idea of the femme fatale in the novel.

1) What are the women in the novel like? Are there positive and negative women characters, and what are their qualities? How do they compare to real women?

2) Who in the novel is a femme fatale? How is any femme fatale in the novel similar to and different from the archetype of the femme fatale?

3) How do women treat men in the novel? How do men treat women?

Essay Topic 2

The novel is full of clues and implications inherent in events that Marlowe must interpret in order to find the truth. Discuss clues and implications in the novel.

1) How are clues that Marlowe finds deceptive? How do they give hints to the truth? How does Marlowe discern one from the other?

2) What does Marlowe infer from others' behavior? How is he able to make these inferences?

3) What does Marlowe infer from activity that he observes around him? How is observation and inference related? What skills does Marlowe use to make these inferences?

Essay Topic 3

In the novel, there are two ways to deal with problems and difficult situations: physical and mental prowess. Discuss physical and mental prowess in the novel.

1) When and how does Marlowe use physical force, intimidation, or threat? Why does Marlowe use these tactics?

2) When and how does Marlowe use mental deduction, bluffing, or other mental tactics? Why does Marlowe use these tactics?

3) Which is more important in the novel, the mental or the physical? Which has greater value attached to it?

(see the answer keys)

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