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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. When Penn has a dream that someone is trying to tell him something, whom does Penn see in his dream?

2. When Penn gets in the car of the person who was following Penn home from the fundraiser, where do the two men go?

3. What is the name of the girl Penn was involved with during high school?

4. When the two women tell Penn the story of Payton's murder, how does Penn react?

5. What is the name of Penn Cage's mother?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Penn explain to his interviewer that Johnson is not courting the black vote?

2. Why does Penn decide to move back to his hometown?

3. When Penn and Tom discuss Tom's options regarding the blackmail, Penn suggests two options to his father. What are they?

4. When Tom questioned Presley about why he only returned one gun, not two, what did Presley say?

5. Why is Penn confused by the comments made by the woman who threw the drink in Penn's face at the fundraising party?

6. When Penn first confronts his father about what's bothering his father, what does Penn think is going on?

7. Why does Sam Jacobs warn Penn about the Payton murder as they leave the fund-raising party?

8. After hearing Presley's response about why Presley only returned one gun, not two, what does Tom believe?

9. After Hanratty is convicted, what does Hanratty's brother do?

10. According to the story Penn tells during his interview, why was Payton murdered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the main themes is this novel is revenge.

a. Identify three characters that use revenge as their primary motivation. For each character, describe an instance in which the character acted out of a need for revenge.

b. Why do these characters seek revenge?

c. What is the outcome for these characters? Were they successful in their endeavors, or would they have been more successful if they had not gone after revenge? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Leo Marston wears different masks in the story. Both a community leader and a behind-the-scenes manipulator, Leo is a study in contradictions. Clearly, he can be a good man, but he just chooses not to be one. Identify, then compare and contrast the different sides of Leo Marston. How would the entire plot have been affected if Leo had not been successful at deceiving those around him? Why is it necessary for Leo to wear different masks? Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characteristics, roles, loyalties, and agendas of the following people in the story: Penn Cage, Leo Marston, Austin Mackey, John Portman, and Dwight Stone.

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