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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 does Melinda tell Vic Mr. Cameron has explained to her?

2. What do Brian and Tony want to have for dinner that Vic is repulsed by?

3. What does Horace tell Vic that backs up Horace's suspicions about Carpenter in Part III?

4. Who finally admits that Carpenter is a detective to Vic?

5. What does Melinda say was Carpenter's diagnosis of Vic?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vic never feel after killing De Lisle?

2. What does Vic decide to do for Trixie in Part IV that Melinda objects to?

3. In Part III, who tries to help Melinda prove Vic is a killer besides the private investigator?

4. How do Vic's and Melinda's friends react to Melinda's behavior after De Lisle's death?

5. What does Melinda tell Trixie about De Lisle's death?

6. Who attends the Mellers' barbecue in Part IV, and why is this strange?

7. What does June Wilson tell Vic about her husband?

8. What does Horace tell Vic about Melinda's persistent claims that he is a murderer?

9. What does Melinda tell Vic that Carpenter concluded about Vic?

10. How do the other partygoers react to the death inquiry of De Lisle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do Vic and almost everybody in Little Wesley react to Melinda's accusations against him following De Lisle's death? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Highsmith establish and maintain suspense throughout the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Why is Melinda so convinced that Vic really did kill De Lisle, but no one else in town thinks this is the case? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 517 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample