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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. When Stephanie goes home after the stake-out, there is an invitation on her answering machine to go to dinner. Who is it from?

2. What does Stephanie admire about Morelli?

3. What does the Sandman's neighbor accuse Stephanie of being when he catches her outside the Sandman's apartment?

4. Who follows Stephanie on this investigative journey to the storage facility?

5. Who gets questioned regarding the caskets at the storage facility?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Stephanie is fiercely independent, yet there are many instances where Morelli is present to protect her. List three moments where Morelli tried to protect Stephanie. Based on the text, determine whether or not his protection in these moments actually kept Stephanie safe or if she was perfectly safe on her own.

Essay Topic 3

There were several criminals involved in the many crimes committed throughout the novel: Kenny, the Sandman, Spiro and Moogey. Choose one of these criminals and analyze the different factors that contributed to his downfall.

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This section contains 749 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample