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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 singer wants to sing one of Maggie's songs at this stage?

2. What rank was Phillip Bradford?

3. What else does Patrick do?

4. How long does Maggie work for Barry?

5. What does Patrick sometimes call Maggie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is it about Victoria Lansdowne that contributes to the fact that Will rapes her?

2. How does Barry respond to the songs that Maggie sings in her audition for him?

3. What are the issues that bring Phillip to the edge of insanity and make him want to kill his family?

4. What are the things that help Maggie to finally relax around Patrick?

5. Why is Maggie hiding under the porch with her three-year-old?

6. What happens to Will's concentration in the final seconds of the World Cup game that causes them to lose it?

7. Who records Maggie's song first and how does Maggie feel about it?

8. What happens when Will is six that changes him forever?

9. How does Will handle his first meeting with Maggie?

10. What two things does Will claim are his salvation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Parents are often willing to make extreme sacrifices for their children. In this novel, what examples of this are found? What is the basis for the connection that enables a parent to make an ultimate sacrifice for the sake of their child? Is this a normal or usual relationship? Would any parent be willing to make this sacrifice or does this require a special circumstance or balance between the child and the parent? Is this more likely to be the case where the parent is single with children? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Rejection is difficult for many people to cope with, but it is particularly difficult for Will in this story. Why might he be more sensitive to the issue of rejection than someone else under similar circumstances? How far back can this problem be traced in Will's life? What is the root cause of his attitude towards rejection and who was directly responsible? Could this character flaw have been avoided even with his circumstances with both parents? If so, how, and if not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

Insanity is a plea often used in the court system. What qualifies as an insanity defense? Could Maggie have claimed temporary insanity as a defense in the killing of Patrick or Will? If so, why? How is the defense preferable for the person convicted? Compare a guilty verdict to a guilty verdict by reason of insanity? What are the similarities and what are the differences? How might Will have used this defense had he been required to for Palmer's murder or for the attempted murder of Maggie and her children?

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