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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 specifically is Trahearne going to write about?

2. What does Trahearne need to be able to write?

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

4. What will Trahearne pay Sughrue to do?

5. What are the terms of Sughrue and Torres's arrangement?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Catherine sleep with Sughrue?

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

3. How would Melinda's past life affected her present day life?

4. Has Trahearne been fair to Sughrue, in his use of Sughrue's investigative skills?

5. How does Trahearne and Sughrue's war-story telling force them to bond?

6. How is Catherine's sexual relationship with Sughrue manipulative?

7. What does it say about Stacy that she invites Sughrue to her bed after hearing his conversation with Melinda?

8. Why would Betty Sue need convincing to contact Rosie?

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

10. Why would Selma have lied to Sughrue about Betty Sue's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Edna owns the town's hotel. The story behind her acquisition is important to the story's development, especially Betty Sue's life. How is the hotel symbolic and what is the connection to Betty Sue/Melinda?

Essay Topic 2

Stacy has a small role in the novel. She does deal with all major characters at least once. What is the purpose of Stacy's character?

Essay Topic 3

Many characters manipulate themselves out of trouble with the police. Does this happen at certain points during the plot? How does the timing of this manipulation add to the plot?

(see the answer keys)

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