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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 had Diane Fife experienced a lot of after her father's death?

2. How does Kinsey respond to Charlie when he takes her out to the Ranch House in Ojai?

3. What was Greg Fife's relationship with his father, Laurence, like?

4. The day after meeting with Greg Fife, Kinsey meets with his sister Diane. Where do they meet?

5. Kinsey asks the Homicide Division of the Santa Teresa police force what they found out about the "Darling Elizabeth" letter. What does the homicide detective tell her?

Short Essay Questions

1. What details does Kinsey have to take care of when she returns to her motel in Los Angeles, after concluding her meetings with Greg and Diane Fife?

2. Where does Kinsey go after she has attempted to find out more from Colin about Gwen?

3. What does Kinsey do when she returns to the Glass residence the day after the explosion?

4. What surprising things does Gwen Fife tell Kinsey when she meets her at Rosie's Bar?

5. When she gets home from Nikki's beach house, Charlie is waiting for Kinsey, but she is not very happy to see him. She agrees to go to dinner with him. What happens at the Ranch House restaurant?

6. After fighting and reconciling with Charlie, Kinsey meets with Homicide Detective Dolan again. What does he tell her about the "Darling Elizabeth" letter? How does Kinsey feel about this?

7. Kinsey phones Charlotte Mercer after discussing the "Darling Elizabeth" letter with Con Dolan. What does Charlotte tell her? Who can Kinsey now eliminate as suspects? Who can't she eliminate, causing her uneasiness?

8. Kinsey decides she has to return to Nikki's beach house to follow up on something. What is it, and what is the result of the follow up?

9. After Diane talks about her parents, Kinsey asks her about Bruno, the dog who died on the last Labor Day weekend Laurence was alive. How does Diane respond to this?

10. After visiting Greg Fife, Kinsey goes to see Diane Fife, his sister. What does Diane share with Kinsey about her parents?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In reference to the plotting of "'A' Is for Alibi":

(1) Why are the events of the novel arranged as they are?

(2) What moves the narrative along? Is it external action or internal conflicts? Or a combination of both? Support your answer with three examples.

Essay Topic 3

Define what is meant by "style" in writing. Discuss what kind of style is used in traditional nonfiction, novels, and creative nonfiction. Which style was used in the writing of "'A' Is for Alibi"? Support your answer with four examples.

(see the answer keys)

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