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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 does Horn's adviser instruct Horn to do in order to receive more votes?

2. Why does Berryman go see Johnboy after visiting his father?

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

4. What does one of Ochs's articles for the newspaper he works for receive?

5. Who does Ochs visit after meeting Oona?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe Ochs's writing career for the newspaper in Part 4.

4. Why is the letter Ochs receives due to his newspaper articles so important to the story?

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

6. What happens at the country club that gives readers a stronger understanding of the plot to kill Horn?

7. What events take place right before Berryman leaves New York City, and what do the events cause him to do?

8. What happens when Horn is on television?

9. In what way does Berryman show a lack of friendship toward Ben?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part 3, Thomas Berryman spends a weekend at a beach house with Oona Quinn. What does Berryman let slip to Oona? How does his slip cause Oona to be involved in the plan to kill Horn? Was the slip good or did it lead to trouble? Use examples from the reading in order to justify 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

In the Prologue, readers find out that Jimmie Lee Horn was the first black mayor of Nashville, Tennessee. Horn was killed during a rally on the Fourth of July. Does the race of Jimmie Lee Horn have any impact on what readers may think is the reason he was assassinated? Does the mention of Horn's race cause readers to jump to conclusions since it did not necessarily have to be acknowledged so quickly?

(see the answer keys)

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