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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. Which door was not locked in Kenny's recovered vehicle?

2. Where did Kenny Mancuso serve his duty in the army?

3. What does Stephanie find in Rex's cage after her apartment was vandalized?

4. In what location does the tire on the Buick go flat?

5. Based on the tips Julia has given, Stephanie and Morelli decide that Julia is what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Stephanie hire a former prostitute to work for Vinnie?

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

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

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

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

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

8. Why does Morelli want Stephanie to stay away from the Sandman?

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

10. What does the hamster Rex offer to Stephanie? How does this contrast with Morelli?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, guns made a significant appearance. Discuss whether guns were portrayed as good or evil, and in the end, what this might mean in terms of the author's philosophy on firearms.

Part 1) Cite and discuss where guns were portrayed positively in the story and why.

Part 2) Cite and discuss where guns were portrayed negatively in the story and why.

Part 3) Explain Stephanie's relationship to her gun. Why did she keep it in a jar? Why did she rely on her stun gun instead? Was it ironic that Stephanie used a stun gun to go save Grandma Mazur, but it was Grandma Mazur's real gun that saved the day?

Essay Topic 2

The author utilizes symbols throughout the story. From each of the following examples, explain what each object symbolizes in Stephanie's life. Explain how each symbol reflects an aspect of Stephanie's life and how it serves the story.

1. The Buick

2. The Sexy Purple Shoes

3. The Gun in the Jar

Essay Topic 3

There are several instances of foreshadowing in the story. Choose one example from the text and analyze it. What is the foreshadowing? Why is it there? Does it pay off? Does it add to the story? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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