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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 was missing from the body of the bishop on Flight 66?

2. What did Baden recommend to the MIA team?

3. Perez and Narcisco were found guilty of what?

4. What are symptoms of ricin poisoning?

5. What does Baden note about the symmetry of the human body?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe why Baden notes the conspiracy theorists' use of the head movement of Kennedy after his shooting leads to unreliable conclusions.

2. What does Baden note in Chapter One is the price of fame when a celebrity dies, and why?

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

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

5. What are the ways mentioned in Chapter Six to identify a body?

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

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

8. Describe how Baden explains why the father of the female drug addict in Chapter Two has little emotion.

9. Explain why Baden believes people go into particular medical professions.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Baden often questions the morality of others involved in the governmental process. He questions the DAs, the mayors, hospital coroners, military personnel, rescue workers, and still others throughout the novel on a variety of different levels. Why do you think Baden suspects nearly all departments of corruption? Do you think this comes from his own experiences as an ME? Why or why not? Do you think Baden is biased as a result of his experiences? Does this discredit his opinions about such issues as misidentifying remains, improper ME techniques, or looting of victims? Why or why not? What does this say about the credibility of his entire book?

Essay Topic 2

In the case of Daphne Mellon, it became clear, through Baden's investigation, that Mellon had died of a drug overdose. The case was closed, without locating anyone who attended the party Baden believes she attended, and without speaking with anyone who directly had dealings with Mellon at the party. Do you believe Baden's judgment was biased, based on Mellon's known drug use and history of sexual promiscuity? Or do you believe the evidence found supports his idea of a drug and sex party gone wrong? Explain your answer, using the details from the case. Be sure to mention where she was found, events leading up to the death, her boyfriend's statements, and those of her friends, her actions prior to her death, the findings at the scene, and any other pertinent information.

Essay Topic 3

In the Joseph Christopher case, Baden points out several odd serial killer characteristics. What made Christopher a rare serial killer? What were his methods? What were his motives? How does this differ from other serial killers? Be sure to be detailed in your answers, and include each phase of Christopher's killing spree, including:

• The shootings in Buffalo

• The killings of the taxi drivers

• The slashings in New York

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,057 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample