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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 does Baggy say surprised him?

2. What verdict does the jury come to in regards to Danny serving a life sentence or receiving the death penalty?

3. Who receives one of the summons to be on the jury pool?

4. What is it about Danny Padgitt that makes the cop reach for his handcuffs?

5. Who is murdered in a nearby county?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Willie and his photographer learn about the murder and rape?

2. Describe Lydia Vince's testimony in Chapter 16.

3. Describe Willie's newspaper article about Rhonda's rape and murder in Chapter 5

4. Describe the testimony of Lydia's ex-husband.

5. Describe what happens to Willie and his living situation in Chapter 29

6. Explain Callie's childhood and how she was educated.

7. Describe Callie's feelings about being picked to be on the jury for the murder trial.

8. What does the Padgitt family do in order to try and stop Willie from printing his news stories?

9. Describe the election campaign that takes place in Chapter 27.

10. Describe the news story that Willie runs in Chapter 6 and what happens because of it.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During the course of the story the main character, Willie, changes quite a bit. Explain Willie's character at the beginning of the story and then give an explanation of it as it appears at the end of the story. In what ways has he changed? In what ways has he remained unchanged?

Essay Topic 2

Much of the town knew that the killer of the jury members was very patient and would wait until he could easily get to them.

Were the precautions taken by the towns people to protect their friends and family unnecessary? Useless? Explain.

How would the scene have differed if it had been a modern day setting?

Essay Topic 3

Mental illness is talked about a little bit in regards to Hank Hooten. Would it have been more helpful if the author had given more information about this character? Why was Willie so willing to agree not to publish any of the doctor's information about Hank Hooten's illness?

(see the answer keys)

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