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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 current position held by the person Penn is stunned to see in Huntsville?

2. Why had the person Penn interviews in Colorado been released from his previous job?

3. As Penn and his bodyguard are at the warehouse, shots are fired. Who is one of the men killed?

4. While having drinks at Biscuits and Blues, who interrupts Penn and his companion?

5. As Tom and Penn discuss the Payton murder, what do the two men agree is most important as the investigation progresses?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Penn respond when he hears the announcement from the person Penn sees getting off an airplane in Baton Rouge?

2. When Leo Marston arrives at the Marston family home and interrupts Penn and Olivia, what does Leo tell Penn?

3. Why did Caitlin originally not want to publish Penn's accusations about Marston in her paper?

4. How does the person who interrupts Penn at Biscuit and Blues learn that her birth certificate does not list a father's name?

5. When Annie is returned to Penn, there is also a note for Penn. What does the note say?

6. Why does Caitlin change her mind about publishing Penn's accusations in her paper?

7. At Ruby's funeral, Shad Johnson gets up to speak. What does Johnson say?

8. According to Caitlin, what is the reason why Agent Stone is reluctant to speak to Penn about the Payton case?

9. As Penn peeks in the window of the Marston family home, what does Penn see Leo preparing to do?

10. According to Penn, why had Portman wanted Hanratty extradited to Los Angeles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the story, there are several attempts made on Penn Craig's life.

a. Identify three characters or groups who try to kill Penn. Describe the situation and how Penn escapes.

b. Compare and contrast the characters that try to kill Penn, as well as these characters' motivations.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast how the character of Penn Cage changes as the story progresses. Be sure to include your assessment of Penn's character when he is first introduced in the story, when he moves back to Natchez, when Althea asks for his help finding Del's murderer, when he meets with Stone for the second time, and when he returns to Disney World at the end of the story. Use examples from the story to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In many ways, the novel is a series of contrasts designed to heighten the reader's awareness and draw the reader deeper into the story and the intricacies of each of the story's characters. Identify at least three contrasts that are used in the novel. Describe these contrasts and determine how they impact the story's plot, as well as the reader's emotional involvement in the characters' lives. If these identified contrasts were not included in the story, what impact would their absence have on the storyline, the characters' development, and the readers' involvement?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 812 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample