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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 does Lula say about the Buick when she is driving in it with Stephanie?

2. What is in the package Stephanie receives from her building superintendent?

3. What type of guns does Stephanie find in Spiro's apartment?

4. What does Stephanie get from the guns in Spiro's apartment?

5. Who cut off his own finger as a child?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Stephanie and Lula have in common?

2. In Chapter Thirteen, Stephanie uses Grandma Mazur as a weapon against Vinnie. How does Grandma Mazur use her power over Vinnie to keep Stephanie employed, and what does this say about the power structure in the 'Burg?

3. Kenny's acts of violence start small and then progress into larger, more grotesque actions. Explain the escalation.

4. Why does Stephanie's mother complain about Stephanie wearing Doc Marten boots?

5. How does Stephanie physically describe the women in her family and how does this match up with their character?

6. Grandma Mazur buys clothing similar to Stephanie in Chapter Thirteen. Why do you feel she does this?

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

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

9. Describe the general vibe of Spiro. What redeeming qualities has he shown up until Chapter Nine that would make Stephanie trust him and work as his bodyguard?

10. When Grandma Mazur is attacked, this hurts Stephanie more than if she were attacked. Why?

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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