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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 causes the event that happens to the killer after he shoots his hostage?

2. Why does Jack need to kill his old friend?

3. Who spots a kid hanging around the school and sends him away?

4. What question remains in Cross' mind after a gunman is found dead in the tunnel where the President escaped?

5. Who calls the Washington, DC police regarding the specific information about the Truth School killings?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the general's son a threat to Jack?

2. Why does the Secret Service continue moving the President through the tunnel against the investigator's advice?

3. Where is Roosevelt Military Academy located? Name two reasons it is important to this novel.

4. How does the killer respond when the message board censor removes vivid postings regarding the Truth School murders?

5. Why doesn't the message board censor go directly to police with the information when it first starts appearing?

6. Why does the Truth School killer have a seizure, and why is this information important to the novel?

7. Briefly discuss the marital problems between the Johnsons. Why are these problems important to this novel?

8. What is unusual about Jill's phone call to the President?

9. Explain the plan that Jack will use to kill the President.

10. Why does the President decide to honor all of his scheduled appearances? Is this vanity or valor, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motive of the Jack and Jill killers. How did their inside position help them in their mission to kill the President? What was there motive for killing him? Why did they murder others if their ultimate goal was the President?

Essay Topic 2

Irony is the contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. There are three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Identify and discuss two examples of irony in the book. Which type of irony is it? What is expected and what actually occurs with your examples?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss foreshadowing and its importance in writing mystery or suspense novels. Select three memorable instances of foreshadowing from this story and write about them in detail. Why did those five instances stay on your mind?

(see the answer keys)

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