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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. In Chapter 44, what does Jack find in the fireplace?

2. Which of the hostages had a bag of stage blood?

3. In Chapter 52, what word can Jack see on the box in the hallway of the apartment building where the hostage situation is happening?

4. What did Julia's mother do for a living?

5. What type of music does Zara like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jim suggest that the bank robber do?

2. Why is Roger right when he says that the top floor of the building used to be one apartment?

3. What does Jim remember that his wife used to do?

4. Why does Lennart go to the closet for some pants?

5. How does Roger order pizza?

6. What does Ro request when Estelle offers to make some food?

7. What does Nadia tell Zara about getting close to people?

8. How do the police get the pizzas to the hostages?

9. How do Jack and Jim discover that the bank robber did not shoot themselves?

10. Why has Nadia not prescribed antidepressants for Zara?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator comments that the word Stockholm represents more than a place. How is the word Stockholmers used in the book? What does it symbolize?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, some characters are more thoroughly described than others. Who are some characters that are merely named in passing or have a minor role in the novel? What is the importance of these flat characters to the story line? In what way do these characters make the main characters more colorful or interesting? When there is conflict, what type of role do these flat characters play?

Essay Topic 3

Humor is a literary device that makes readers laugh. How does Backman use humor in the book? How does it help break up the tension in various scenes?

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