View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to the person who convinces Penn to meet with him by telling him that his family is in danger, what does this person consider Payton to be?

2. For whom is the fundraising party being held?

3. According to Tom, who had Tom told about Ellen's rape in his office?

4. Where do Penn and his interviewer end up meeting?

5. How much money does Penn offer to Ray Presley to buy Presley's gun?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Presley return the gun he borrowed from Tom?

2. Why does Ike Ransom refuse to elaborate when he tells Penn who he believes was involved in the Payton murder?

3. When Penn calls home to tell his parents that he is moving back to his hometown, he senses something is wrong. Why does Penn not press his mother for details?

4. According to Austin Mackey, why did Mackey not investigate the Payton murder himself?

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

6. When Penn first confronts his father about what's bothering his father, how does Tom react?

7. When Penn sees Mackey at the fundraising party, why is Mackey angry with Penn?

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

9. When Penn's mother confesses why she has been upset, why is Penn stunned by her news?

10. How does Penn feel when he returns to his hometown to begin life anew?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several times in the story, Penn seeks out the help of other people in order to move forward in both his investigation into the Payton murder and in his personal life.

a. Identify at least three times in the story in which Penn reaches out for help.

b. Compare and contrast each of these events in terms of the situation Penn is trying to understand, the effect of his asking for help, and the situation that immediately follows this time.

c. How might Penn's actions have impacted the story's plot if he hadn't reached out for help from others?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the groups of people trying to prevent the truth about Payton's murder from being told. Compare and contrast these groups in terms of overall number, organization, overall motivation, ability to plan, and success achieved. How are they similar? How are they different? Does any one group actually end up succeeding? Why or why not? Support your answer with examples from the story.

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 769 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample