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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 do Spenser and Hawk meet Broz?

2. What does Spenser claim to be when visiting Gerry's clients?

3. What does Broz want Spenser to do?

4. Who do Paul and Spenser talk about after Paige retires to bed?

5. What does Susan say work helps her to discover?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Spenser say he admires about Susan in this section?

2. What does Spenser discuss with Paul in this section?

3. What progress does Spenser make in the investigation at the beginning of Chapter 25?

4. Why does Susan think Meade Alexander is selfish?

5. What realization does Susan come to about relationships at the beginning of this section?

6. Why does Joe refuse to give the tapes to Spenser?

7. What does Spenser observe at Gerry's party?

8. In what way does this section show Spenser's psychological strength?

9. What does Spenser observe while spying on Gerry Broz?

10. How does Spenser persuade Cynthia Knox to talk to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aside from the main character, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 2

Why do the students think Robert B. Parker ends the book as he does? Do the students think he could have ended the book in another way? What meaning would that new ending have given the book?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Meade make such a successful politician? What does the character of Meade express about American politics in the 1980s?

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This section contains 670 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample