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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. Where does Berryman go before leaving New York City?

2. What are Berryman's thoughts about the car that drives past his house several times?

3. Where is Berryman when he thinks about where he would like to retire?

4. What does Oona tell Ochs about during their meeting?

5. What does Ochs say Horn has aspirations for involving his future?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Ben at the end of Part 3, and what does the event cause readers to think about him?

2. Describe the meeting between Berryman and Johnboy.

3. Why does Ochs go to Thomas Berryman's house, and how does he describe Oona Quinn?

4. What happens when Berryman goes to Bert Poole's house?

5. Who is Oona Quinn?

6. When Ochs returns to Nashville in Part 4, who is being investigated and what is the importance of the investigation?

7. What does Berryman do when he travels to Texas?

8. Explain the meeting that takes place when Berryman takes Oona to New York City.

9. Why is Berryman's visit to Texas important to the story?

10. What does Ochs wonder about Oona after hearing her stories involving the murder of Horn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Jimmie Lee Horn is murdered, Bert Poole is stated as the murderer. What events led to Bert's charge of murder? What causes people in the story to firmly believe Bert was the killer of Horn? Was Bert framed? Cite examples from the text that support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Ochs finds out from his bosses that he is being sent to Long Island to visit the William Pound Institution. Ben Toy, a patient at the mental institute, says he has information about the murder of Jimmie Lee Horn. When Ochs finds out he is being sent to interview Ben, he believes the trip to Long Island will lead to a dead end. Why might Ochs think this? Does the fact that Ben is in a mental institution have anything to do with Ochs's opinion? Are there any other occurrences in the book that show Ben as someone who is not taken seriously, due to his mental issues?

Essay Topic 3

When Berryman is preparing himself for the assassination of Horn, he notices that his hands are shaking. What does this tell readers about Berryman? Could shaking hands before committing a crime cause readers to feel unexpected sympathy towards him? Are there any other possibilities as to why Berryman's hands could be shaking before he goes to assassinate Horn?

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