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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 Carl say to Joe when he is finished telling the story of his grandfather's death?

2. When does Janet think Carl will die?

3. What does Lila's apartment smell like?

4. What did Carl do during the trail that was considered unusual?

5. What name does Crystal call Carl in her diary?

Short Essay Questions

1. Carl and Joe make some big assumptions about each other during their first meeting. What does Carl assume about Joe?

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

3. Why does Terry Bremer call Joe when his mother does not come home?

4. How did Carl save Virgil's life in Vietnam?

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 try to get Lila Nash to notice him at the beginning of the book?

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

8. How does Joe end up interviewing Carl Iverson?

9. Why did Joe step into a bar for the first time when he was ten years old?

10. Why does Jeremy look to the corners of the room when Joe is talking to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chapters 18 and 19 discuss Carl's trial. Is it possible that Carl wanted to go to prison? What evidence is there that might make it look this way? Is there more to learn about Carl than has already been presented? What might he still be hiding from Joe?

Essay Topic 2

How does the rape and murder of the girl in Vietnam parallel the murder of Crystal Hagen? How does Carl's experience in Vietnam shed light on his behavior toward Crystal and why she might have viewed his behavior as creepy? What does Joe now believe about Crystal's murder and Carl's involvement after learning about Vietnam?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the following quote from Chapter 8 using evidence from the text: "But deep down, I knew the truth: I needed her - not as a son needs a mother, but as a sinner needs the devil" (61). Who does this quote belong to and who is it about? Why is this analogy appropriate?

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