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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 did Travis do when Dr. Brown caught him inside the house?

2. How did Jerald Sklar claim Catherine Fried had killed her husband?

3. What was the original cause of death listed on Daphne Mellon's death certificate?

4. What is the proof of cyanide poisoning Baden finds in the bodies that is crucial to the case?

5. What activity does Baden claim plays havoc on teen suicide rates?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Ondine's syndrome.

2. Explain the circumstances surrounding the finding of Daphne Mellon's vehicle, personal items, and body, and why those findings led to questions.

3. How did Baden know Paul Fried had not committed suicide?

4. Explain how Baden used the digestive system to determine time of death in the Hendricks case.

5. Explain how the defense for Hendricks tried to argue the digestive system argument, and Baden's counter argument.

6. Explain how and why Jascalevich killed the patients of other doctors.

7. What are possible motives given for Joseph Christopher's killing spree?

8. Explain the three themes of Baden's affidavit in the case of Claus von Bulow.

9. Explain why doctors believed Sunny von Bulow was suffering from low blood sugar on her arrival the third time at the hospital, in spite of EMT belief that she was suffering an overdose.

10. Describe the potassium eye fluid test.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the forensics used in the case of the prison riot at Attica to prove the guards accidentally shot the hostages. What techniques did Baden use to look at the bodies? What did he find? Why did people dislike his findings? How could he prove the findings? What mistakes did others, such as the funeral director, make that hindered the investigation? Did this serve to increase the tension? Why? Do you think the end result at Attica was beneficial? Why? What group did the riots help create? What does that group do? How did that help the prisoners in the long run?

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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