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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 occupation of the person who follows Penn home from the fundraiser?

2. Where is Penn's hometown?

3. According to Sam, what rumor has he heard about Olivia?

4. How much money does Penn buy the Payton file for?

5. Who does the person following Penn believe was responsible for the murder of Payton?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. 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?

6. According to Penn's mother, why had she been upset earlier on the phone?

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

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

9. Why does Shad Johnson want Penn to leave the Payton case alone?

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

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

Leo Marston is a man who is supremely confident. Identify at least three instances from the story that highlight his confidence. How is Marston helped by his utter confidence? How is Marston hurt by his confidence? Provide examples of each.

Essay Topic 3

John Portman, Director of the FBI, uses many different tactics to rule his subordinates and try to keep people in line, including Penn Cage.

a. Identify three tactics used by Portman to keep people in line.

b. For each tactic identified, explain why Portman uses this method of control.

c. Compare and contrast these tactics in terms of their operational style, level of involvement, and operational success or failure.

(see the answer keys)

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