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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. After claiming to fear for his life, whom does Spiro hire as a bodyguard?

2. What does Stephanie claim the other women in her family have that she does not?

3. What does Stephanie insist Spiro do with the severed finger?

4. Why does Spiro fire Stephanie in Chapter Thirteen?

5. In Chapter Eleven, what does Stephanie leave for Morelli when she takes the truck?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does it seem as though Joyce Barnhardt has had it out for Stephanie throughout their entire life?

2. Stephanie does not call the police about the finger. Instead, she returns it to the body. What does this say about her character?

3. How does Morelli help defend Grandma Mazur and Stephanie against Kenny?

4. In Chapter Eleven, what action does Stephanie take that causes the religious structure of the 'Burg to be revealed?

5. When Stephanie agrees to guard Spiro, it seems she is simply accepting money to do something she finds distasteful. Is this the reason?

6. Describe the type of style the women in the 'Burg aspire to. Does caring about beauty and fashion make them seem oppressed?

7. What does the fact that Stephanie's mother tried to set Stephanie up with Spiro say about her mother's judgment?

8. What does Stephanie learn about Morelli when Andy Roche appears in Chapter Twelve, and what does this say about Stephanie's instincts?

9. Stephanie observes that the widow of the fingerless man has never experienced independence and will not know how to handle independence now that her husband has died. How is this different from Stephanie's lifestyle?

10. Stephanie cannot catch Kenny because she is wearing a sexy pair of high heels. What does this symbolize?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stephanie's apartment is a safe haven that reflects her independent lifestyle. Analyze why the break-in at Stephanie's apartment affected her in the way that it did. Consider the following...

1. What does the apartment symbolize?

2. Why is it important to Stephanie?

3. What was the significance of Stephanie having to leave her apartment to protect her family?

4. Why was it important for her to return to the apartment at the end of the story?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Kenny's past is mentioned several times throughout the novel. There is discussion of how Kenny was as a child, as well as his recent relationships with women. Many of these instances are considered disturbing. How does this word of mouth discussion develop his character?

(see the answer keys)

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