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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. What do Sughrue and Stacy do to Torres when they first arrive at Hyland's home?

2. What happens to Stacy during the night after the events at Hyland's home?

3. What does Sughrue do to Torres's hand?

4. When did Trahearne realize Sughrue had the investigative skills he lacked?

5. What has Trahearne decided about the money Melinda owes?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why would Sughrue immediately head out to California after the phone call from Jimmy Joe?

2. Why does Melinda offer herself to Sughrue?

3. Why would Sughrue make a superficial joke about Catherine''s age?

4. What is the novel's tone as Sughrue and Stacy stage an assault on Hyland's house?

5. Is it possible for Sughrue to help Trahearne write? Why?

6. Is Sughrue's reaction to finding Melinda at Selma's home realistic? Why?

7. Why does Catherine sleep with Sughrue?

8. According to Catherine, what is Trahearne and Melinda's marriage like?

9. Why does Trahearne start drinking again?

10. What is Trahearne's failure to write symbolic of? How?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

San Francisco as a location for much of the plot development is ironic. San Francisco has two sides--the place where free thinkers live and the place where people like Betty Sue disappear. What is ironic about the two views of San Francisco?

Essay Topic 2

How is Selma Hinds a catalyst in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Rosie and Betty Sue are not together for a lengthy time in this novel, yet they are mother and daughter. How are Rosie and Betty Sue similar?

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This section contains 754 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample