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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 is the name of the black man running for mayor in Penn's hometown?

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

3. What is the occupation of the person who follows Penn home from the fundraiser?

4. At the fundraising party, who throws a drink in Penn's face?

5. What does one of the Hanratty brothers periodically send to Penn?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. When Penn asks his father if he ever found out the reason behind Marston's attack, what is Tom's reply?

6. Although Penn has no proof, what does he suspect about his father's involvement in his wife's final hours?

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

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

9. When Presley and Tom met after Hillman had been killed, what did Tom ask Presley?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Why did the author choose "The Quiet Game" as the book's title? How does the title foreshadow the events that unfold in the story, the struggles of the main characters, and the violence portrayed in the story?

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This section contains 791 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample