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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 was the conclusion of the DNA test?

2. What do the scars on Lila's shoulder reveal about her past?

3. What news does Joe give to Carl during his visit when Carl is not in his wheelchair?

4. How does Joe decide to move Carl's case forward?

5. Who does Joe originally think DJ is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Carl wish to see before he dies?

2. What does Carl say is the real reason he ended up saving Virgil that day in Vietnam?

3. What is the rest of Carl's story from Vietnam, specifically, how his and Gibbs' relationship ended?

4. How is Doug Lockwood's house symbolic of the man himself?

5. What is discovered about Lila while they are at the bar after the play?

6. What does Carl see before he leaves the hut that haunts him?

7. What changes between Lila and Joe in Chapter 21?

8. How does Joe handle the man who causes Lila to run from the bar?

9. How does Joe and Lila's relationship change in Chapter 39?

10. What two mistakes does Doug make when he kidnaps Joe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joe Talbert's autistic brother, Jeremy, is a big part of Joe's life and represents a core conflict for Joe's character. How does his autism affect Joe and their mother? Does Joe view his brother as a blessing, a burden, both, or neither? How do you know this?

Essay Topic 2

Carl makes one more confession in Chapter 31. What does he confess to Joe and how does Joe feel about the confession? In Chapter 6 Carl tells Joe that there is a difference between killing and murdering, then says, "I've done both. I've killed . . . and I've murdered" (44). Explain his comment in light of Carl's final confession.

Essay Topic 3

At Carl's funeral, Virgil gives Joe Carl's medals telling him that Carl wanted Joe to have them. What does the gift of the medals say abut Carl and Joe's relationship at the close of the book? How does Carl's death affect Virgil? How do you think Joe feels about receiving Carl's medals?

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This section contains 905 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample