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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 piece of evidence was crucial to the case in 1910?

2. What group was set up in 1977 to help explain the Kennedy assassination?

3. What is Baden's first homicide case?

4. What was the outside ME's issued cause of death in the Stewart case?

5. What happened in St. Louis in 1973 that hindered MIA investigations?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe why there was controversy surrounding the death of Elvis.

2. Describe the event in Oklahoma that caused the state to create an office of medical examiner.

3. Describe the People vs. Levine case. What was the case, and why did Baden fail to do as he was asked by the DA?

4. Explain how the body of Theresa Ferrara was identified and why there were different strands of hair on her torso.

5. Describe the symptoms of strangulation, as seen during autopsy.

6. Explain why Baden believes coroners are often in trouble as a result of their positions.

7. Discuss the symptoms of strychnine.

8. What was Humes' excuse about the faulty autopsy, and is this excuse valid?

9. Explain the circumstances surrounding the guilty verdict of Harvey Crippen.

10. Explain how Baden discovered the age, time of death, and identity of Katherine Howard.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel discusses three clear methods to detect time of death, those of rigor mortis, livor mortis, and algor mortis.

Part 1) List each method, and discuss, in detail, how that method helps determine the time of death.

Part 2) Compare and contrast the three methods. How are they the same? How are they different?

Part 3) Which is the best method of detection? Why? What are the limitations of this method?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 1 of the book, Baden discusses the concept of celebrity death, and the effect of a flawed autopsy on the perception of foul play surrounding the death. Do you think conspiracy theories are derived from the life of the celebrity, or the circumstances surrounding their death, or both? Why? What aspects of life or death help frame a conspiracy theory following death? Why do some celebrities suffer such beliefs after their death and some do not? Based on this, do you think forensic science can have an effect on these ideas? Why or why not? What does this say about forensic science?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 4, Baden discusses the history of the office of the medical examiner. In detail, discuss this history. How did the position begin in the reign of King Richard I? What was the position like by the eighteenth century? What event began to change the view of this position, according to Scotland Yard? What began to happen by the French Revolution? How was the position seen in the colonies? What was the view of the ME by the early nineteenth century? What is the current view? Be sure to list details from the book in your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 998 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample