View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Of what does Mawson say Bradley probably reminds Dr. Lorrimer?

2. Why does Angela Foley's grandmother not raise Angela?

3. Where is Doyle parked the night of the murder of Lorrimer?

4. What does Howarth tell Brenda Pridmore when she arrives at work?

5. How does Dr. Kerrison appear as he is answering Dalgliesh's questions?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dalgliesh learn upon interviewing Inspector Doyle?

2. What do several witnesses on a bus tell the detectives?

3. Describe the scene at the chapel when Dalgliesh and Massingham arrive and what do they do.

4. Describe Miss Willard.

5. What does Dalgliesh ask Domenica and Howarth and what astounds the detectives with Domenica's reply?

6. What does Bradley tell Dalgliesh when questioned about the vomit?

7. What does Major Hunt tell Dalgliesh and Massingham about Dr. Lorrimer's will?

8. Describe Dr. Lorrimer.

9. Describe Domenica Schofield.

10. Who do Dalgliesh and Massingham meet upon arriving at the Lorrimer cottage and what do they learn from the person?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the themes of the novel, as alluded to over and over, is the idea that the investigation into a crime disregards all claims to privacy. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the ways in which Dr. Lorrimer's privacy is violated after his death. Is this right and necessary? Is there any way to conduct an investigation to discover his murderer without violating his privacy?

2. Not only is Dr. Lorrimer's privacy violated, but so, too, is the privacy of several other characters. Discuss two other characters (besides Dr. Larrimer) whose privacy is violated in the course of the murder investigation. Is this invasion of privacy right? Necessary? Is there any way to conduct an investigation to discover the murderer without violating these people's privacy?

3. In the "real" world, many times the privacy of the victim's and perpetrator's families are also violated. Do you believe the police and press have the right to invade innocent people's privacy? What can be done to minimize the effects of this on the families of those involved in a crime? Do you think the criminal's family deserves as much respect to privacy as the victim's family? Why or why not? Do Nell and William deserve privacy?

Essay Topic 2

Obviously, suspense/mystery is a part of the detective genre. Answer the following questions:

1. What do you think is the difference between suspense and mystery? Give examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Does Death of an Expert Witness hold more suspense of mystery? Explain your answer with examples.

3. Would you rather read a mystery or a suspense or do you think there is any difference between the two?

4. Does Death of an Expert Witness offer enough suspense and/or mystery to keep you turning the pages? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Angela Foley's grandmother has nothing to do with Angela as Angela is growing up and even allows the young girl to go to an orphanage when her mother dies. Discuss the following:

1. Does it make sense for the grandmother to take her dislike of her daughter out on her granddaughter? Why or why not. Is it ethical or moral? Or is it an ethical or moral issue? Explain.

2. How do you think it impacts Angela as a child for her grandmother to reject her especially after Angela's mother dies? How do you think this may have influenced her choices as an adult?

3. What personality traits do you think Angela holds as a result of being caught in the cross-hairs of the feud between her mother and grandmother?

4. Do you think Angela is capable of murder? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,531 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample