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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. Who checks the keys in the safe with Angela on the morning of Dr. Lorrimer's death?

2. Why is Howarth upset with Lorrimer?

3. Who is Brenda Pridmore?

4. What does the caller tell Mrs. Bidwell early in the morning?

5. What action is Cliff considering?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the scene between Cliff and Susan Bradley as she is breastfeeding their new baby.

2. Why is Dr. Lorrimer's father calling and what does Brenda offer to do?

3. How helpful is the interview with Cliff Bradley for Dalgliesh?

4. Why does Blakelock go up to Dr. Lorrimer's lab and what does he tell Director Howarth when coming back downstairs?

5. Describe Brenda Pridmore.

6. What does Nell do after her father has left the house?

7. What does Susan Bradley ask of Paul Middlemass and what does he do about the request?

8. Why is Dr. Kerrison leaving his home in the middle of the night and what is his biggest concern?

9. About what does Adam Dalgliesh speak to his boss?

10. What does Paul Middlemass tell Dalgliesh and about what does Middlemass lie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Death of an Expert Witness is one book in a series of novels involving Adam Dalgliesh. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing and reading a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

2. What are two disadvantages of writing and reading a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Brenda Pridmore's character serves at least two functions in the novel. Discuss the following:

1. Analyze Brenda Pridmore's character. What are her strengths, weaknesses and personality? Is she a sympathetic character?

2. One of Brenda Pridmore's function in the story is to be as "ignorant" as the reader about criminal investigations and evidence gathering in order to ask questions that the reader might ask and thus educate the reader. How well does Brenda Pridmore serve in this function?

3. A second function for the character of Brenda Pridmore is to serve as a literary foil to several of the character. Define the term "literary foil" and analyze how Pridmore serves as a foil and to what characters and how she does so.

Essay Topic 3

Most of the action of the story is based upon the main plot--that of finding Dr. Lorrimer's murderer. However, there are a couple minor sub-plots in the novel. Discuss the following:

1. What is a sub-plot? Do you think most works of fiction have at least one sub-plot? Why or why not?

2. Identify 2 subplots in Death of an Expert Witness. Identify the parts of the sub-plots you examine such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution and whether the sub-plot contains all these elements.

3. What do you think is the purpose of the 2 sub-plots you identify? Discuss with examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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