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. What does Dave see when he is wandering around outside?

2. Why is Dave angry with Robin?

3. What do Dave and Bubba do on a street corner?

4. What do Dave and the police do?

5. How does Cecil come to regard Dave?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dave do with this new information he gains from Dautrieve about Keats?

2. How does Dave ferret information out of Jerry?

3. What is the ongoing argument between Annie and Dave and what does Dave try to do to please Annie about the issue?

4. What is the government offering Romero and why is Dave informed of the fact?

5. Describe Victor Romero.

6. Why does Dautrieve question Dave about dead men turning up?

7. Describe the night of Annie's murder.

8. Who does Dave go to see after Annie is buried and what happens?

9. What happens that Dave is able to start his new job?

10. What does Dave ask Annie to do and how does she respond both to his request and her meeting Claudette?/

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 3, Alafair's story is brutally graphic and presented at some length, but has no involvement with the remainder of the plot. Discuss the following:

1. Briefly summarize what Alafair tells Dave and Annie through and interpreter. Does her story sound authentic? Why do you think Burke goes into Alafair's story to great detail but it really is not relevant to the rest of the book? Is he setting her up to become a regular character in future novels? Why or why not?

2. Do you think a six-year-old is cognizant enough to offer a brutal and graphic description of her former life? If so, is she capable of understanding what she is relating? What emotional repercussions do you think Alafair will suffer from the time in her previous country?

3. Do you think Dave should keep Alafair after Annie's death? Does he have the emotional capability to give Alafair what she needs--after all, Alafair has suffered much emotional trauma in her few short years and may need professional help and a stable home. Can Dave provide both?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 10, Romero calls Dave and says that he has cut a deal with Federal agents, except that Dave's refusal to come on board has stalled the process. Romero says that Dave must help him with the plea bargain or pay the consequences. Discuss the following:

1. What consequences do you think Romero has in mind?

2. Do you think it is wise and/or ethical for the government to cut a deal with Romero when he is threatening to commit another crime (i.e. the murder of Dave and/or a loved one of Dave's)?

3. Are plea bargains ethical in general? Fair? Necessary? What alternatives are there to plea bargains?

Essay Topic 3

Dave takes the law into his own hands when he decides to beat up Keats and then when he goes after Romero, one of his wife's murderers. Discuss the following:

1. When (or if) is it justified to mete out your own justice to someone who has wronged you or a loved one and broken the law in doing so?

2. What do you think it says about Dave's beliefs about the criminal justice system that he is his own judge and executioner?

3. Do you think Dave's beliefs about the justice system could influence his work as a police officer?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,302 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample