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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 visits Agent Stone again, what does Penn learn from the agent?

2. Penn stops in Huntsville to witness the execution of ___________.

3. In Chapter 24, as Penn is reviewing the case, Tom returns home with news that an attempt had been made on someone's life. On whose life was the attempt made?

4. What is the name of Penn's bodyguard?

5. When Penn returns to the hotel room after witnessing the execution, whom do Penn and Caitlin talk about?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What announcement does the person Penn sees getting off an airplane in Baton Rouge make that shocks Penn?

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

4. What does Penn learn from the eyewitness that Penn tracks down upon his return to Natchez?

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

6. Why does Penn ask Caitlin to accompany him on his upcoming trip?

7. What happened to the woman in the car when she revealed what she had seen the night of the Payton murder?

8. Where does the judge who orders the boxes removed from the Marston family home for safekeeping have the boxes taken to?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the story, there are several attempts on characters that either die or are killed.

a. Identify three characters that do not survive until the end of the novel. Describe each character and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

b. Compare and contrast the characters that do not survive. What does the author have to gain by killing these characters off? What, if anything, does the author lose?

c. How would the story have changed if one or more of your identified characters had survived?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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