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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What item does Joe give to Jeremy before he leaves to go to work?
(a) A gun.
(b) An alarm clock.
(c) A cell phone.
(d) A baseball bat.

2. What issue does Joe not want to tell Carl about?
(a) His grandfather.
(b) His school work.
(c) His report.
(d) His brother.

3. How does Joe describe his looks?
(a) He thinks he is unattractive and short.
(b) He thinks he is average of height and build.
(c) He thinks he is neither handsome nor ugly.
(d) He thinks he is handsome and desired.

4. What is the name of Crystal's boyfriend?
(a) Carl.
(b) Doug.
(c) Andy.
(d) Danny.

5. What is Occam's razor?
(a) The idea that people who want to kill someone will always find a way.
(b) The principle that says all things being equal, the simplest conclusion is usually the correct one.
(c) The murder weapon in the Crystal Hagen case.
(d) The weapon used to cut Carl's throat while he was in prison.

Short Answer Questions

1. What disorder does Joe's mother suffer from?

2. Why is Virgil hostile toward Joe when they first meet?

3. Why does Joe get a phone call from Terry Bremeer, his mother's landlord?

4. When does Janet think Carl will die?

5. How was Berthel Collins involved in Carl's case?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joe resolve his guilt of leaving Jeremy with his mother and Larry?

2. Why does Joe Talbert visit Hillview Manor at the beginning of the book?

3. Virgil accuses Joe of using Carl. Is this true?

4. How does the author describe Crystal Hagen?

5. In Chapter 4, Joe finds a photograph of Carl Iverson being taken into custody. What does he see when he looks at Carl's face in the photo?

6. How does Joe end up interviewing Carl Iverson?

7. What do we learn about Joe's temperment when he confronts Larry and his mother?

8. Joe's mother is bipolar. How does Joe describe her behavior in Chapter 3?

9. What does Mrs. Tate, the school counselor, tell Crystal on the day she is killed?

10. Why is Carl's request for a speedy trial something that his defense considered unusual?

(see the answer keys)

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