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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. Why does Stephanie meet with Spiro following Moogey's viewing?

2. Why is Stephanie suspicious of the Sandman at the beginning of Chapter Five?

3. Whose viewing does Stephanie attend with her grandmother?

4. What does Grandma Mazur accidentally dump on the corpse, causing a fight with his widow?

5. In Chapter Seven, what does Grandma Mazur pull off the dead body in the casket?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Grandma Mazur pull the finger off of the corpse at the funeral home?

2. Stephanie is often shown consuming what type of food throughout the story?

3. What do Grandma Mazur and Eula have in common?

4. How does the information about the money spent on funerals continue to cast suspicion on Spiro's story?

5. Why is Stephanie occasionally dishonest when seeking answers for her case?

6. Why does Stephanie's mother want her to have another job?

7. Why does Stephanie become suspicious of Spiro and the cheap caskets?

8. When Spiro produces an unsigned letter much like the one Stephanie received, what does this device achieve?

9. What does the cat in the hamster cage symbolize?

10. Why do the residents of the 'Burg see it as unusual for Stephanie to be single?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Stephanie's Jeep and the Buick are used to compound what is happening in the story. Working with either the Buick or the Jeep, cite several moments from the story where what happens with the vehicles mirror what happens to Stephanie and tell why.

Essay Topic 2

The 'Burg was practically a character in the novel itself. This community had a life of its own and beliefs of its own that shaped the characters and the outcome of the story.

Part 1) Describe the 'Burg. What were its unique qualities? How did its character affect the story?

Part 2) What is the significance of the 'Burg in this novel? Could the same story be as believable without the 'Burg as a location?

Part 3) If you were to offer up a different setting for the story, what would be a location option as strong as this one and why?

Essay Topic 3

Both Morelli and Stephanie rely on one another but seem to prefer to work alone. How did this help or hinder their progress in solving the crime?

Part 1) What were some examples of Stephanie and Morelli unwittingly working against each other? Could they have made further progress by pooling their resources?

Part 2) There were several incidents of mayhem due to their separate approach. Cite examples and explain the symbolism of these accidents.

Part 3) What were some specific moments or areas Stephanie and Morelli could have shared information and gotten better results? List examples and consider how cooperation could have changed the story.

(see the answer keys)

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