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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. Kinsey is trying to find out more about Libby Glass when she goes to L.A. She looks up Lyle Abernathy but finds no listing for him. What was Lyle to Libby?

2. When Kinsey leaves Sharon's apartment for the last time, what does Kinsey take with her?

3. Kinsey goes to meet Charlie Scorsoni for the first time, and he keeps her waiting, so she grills his secretary. What is her name?

4. Where does Nikki Fife live, now that she is out of jail?

5. What does Gwen say made her bitter about the end of her marriage to Laurence Fife?

Short Essay Questions

1. Before she agrees to work for Nikki, Kinsey questions her about her marriage to Laurence. What does Nikki tell her? How does Kinsey respond to her?

2. What is Charlie's reaction to Nikki Fife's reopening the murder case? What does he say about Gwen Fife, Sharon Napier, and Libby Glass?

3. Kinsey tells Nikki she believes that Nikki is innocent. She agrees to take the case on certain conditions. What are they? What does Nikki do?

4. What happens when Kinsey gets to Sharon's apartment?

5. After her discussion with Charlotte Mercer, Kinsey decides she must find Sharon Napier. How does she do this?

6. At Rosie's, Nikki and Kinsey go over some of the other people who were involved in Laurence's life. Who were Laurence's family members?

7. After discovering Sharon Napier's whereabouts, Kinsey decides she must visit Los Angeles first. Whom does she go to see there and what does she find out?

8. Who is Con Dolan, and why does Kinsey go to visit him?

9. How does Kinsey decide that she will investigate the case for Nikki?

10. What is Kinsey Millhone's occupation, and what do we know about her lifestyle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rising action in a story or novel leads to the climax. It is usually composed of conflict of some sort that will ultimately lead to a climax in the story. List five examples where Grafton introduces conflict into the rising action to lead the story to a climax.

Essay Topic 2

State the theme of A is for Alibi. How does the theme of the story reflected in the conflict? Give four examples with an explanation for each one.

Essay Topic 3

The resolution of a story is the wrapping up of details and often the aftermath of the climactic events. Why was Kinsey's report included at the end of the book? Do you believe these added to the themes of truth and justice? As a reader, how did you respond to the report?

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