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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 did Vinnie do to cause a problem with the female file clerk?

2. Stephanie starts to suspect Kenny and Moogey of doing what?

3. What crashes into Stephanie at a gun sale?

4. What do men admire about the Buick?

5. What does Spiro show Stephanie in Chapter Seven?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What device does the author use to create a past between Stephanie and Morelli?

3. Does the fact that the stolen guns are from Fort Braddock mean that Kenny is guilty?

4. When Stephanie and Morelli bump into each other at the crash, what does it symbolize?

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

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

7. Why does Stephanie go to the storage unit in Chapter Four?

8. What do Stephanie and her Grandmother argue about prior to Moogey's funeral?

9. What drives Stephanie's distrust of Morelli in this particular case?

10. What is the major difference between the attitude of Stephanie's grandmother and Mrs. Plum?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Although Stephanie's heart was broken by her ex-husband, the author puts Stephanie face to face with the woman who helped ruin her marriage instead of him. Consider why the author uses this approach. Does the scene create more sympathy for Stephanie? Does it offer any additional insight into why Stephanie is the way she is? How could the story have been different if Stephanie had bumped into her ex-husband instead?

(see the answer keys)

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