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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. In Dallas, Lee goes to a rally featuring what speaker?

2. What does Lee worry about going to Minsk at the end of the Moscow chapter?

3. What other event besides Miami does Kennedy cancel in this section?

4. At the beginning 12 August, what do the two strippers decide about Jack Ruby?

5. Into what port town do Marina and Lee arrive at the end of the chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lee Oswald decide to kill General Walker?

2. How does the move to Fort Worth affect Lee and Marina's marriage?

3. Describe the conversation between Ruby and Tony Astorina on September 25th.

4. What does Oswald do in Dallas prior to killing Kennedy?

5. Describe Lee's life in Minsk after returning from the U-2 Interrogation.

6. What new plan is Frank Vasquez hatching on September 6th?

7. Why is Oswald brought back to Moscow?

8. How does Lee meet George de Mohrenschildt?

9. What role does writing play and Lee's life in Minsk?

10. Why do Lee and Marina decide to return to America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Libra, the author makes a clear statement regarding a conspiracy to kill Kennedy. He also includes characters in the text that illustrate the ire toward Kennedy felt by others in the country. Write an essay about three individuals who represent possible threats to the President. What is each character's specific problem with Kennedy? How does he express this outrage, and why is he ultimately not a central planner of the killing?

Part 1) Parmenter

Part 2) Astorina

Part 3) Bannister

Essay Topic 2

The political world of the book world is one of interlocking yet competitive covert interests. Write an essay about how these interests affect the life of Lee Oswald. What are each of these interests' objectives, and what role is Oswald supposed to play in these objectives? Which of these covert groups gives up on Oswald and which places nearly all of its hopes on him?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the nihilistic tone of Libra. To what extend do the events of the novel add up to a sum of nothing thematically? What impels Lee Oswald toward his final end? Does Win Everett achieve anything he intended? In the end, does President Kennedy die for any reason? Discuss if the world of Libra is one in which fate or some higher power guides characters' ends.

(see the answer keys)

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