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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. How does Elise react when she hears that there was an intruder in the yard?

2. What is the name of the cat at Lizabeth's house?

3. What is Lizabeth looking for in Chapter 1?

4. Why is Lizabeth all wet in Chapter 3?

5. What gives Matt the indication that Lizabeth is cold when she is in his town house?

Short Essay Questions

1. The novel starts with Lizabeth looking for a job at a construction site. What do you think the draw of a job in the construction industry would be to a woman like Lizabeth?

2. Describe Matt's house and the condition it is in when Lizabeth is first brought there.

3. Matt's living room is nearly overtaken by a large, shiny, black Harley. Describe the symbolism of the Harley in this novel.

4. Comic relief is almost necessary in such a tension-charged novel. Describe the scene at the dinner table in Chapter 3.

5. Matt is quickly becoming a close friend of the family, having already charmed Elsie and Lizabeth. What does Matt do to gain Jason and Billy's affections?

6. When Lizabeth is awakened in the middle of the night by pebbles being thrown against her window, what does she imagine it to be?

7. Matt and Lizabeth discuss the flasher and his MO after his second appearance. As they try to figure out who he is, they come up with a couple hypotheses. What do they surmise about the flasher during this discussion?

8. Elsie's first impression of Lizabeth's house when she drives up is that Lizabeth still doesn't let reality interfere with her imagination. What is meant by this statement?

9. What is Matt's reaction to Lizabeth's forwardness at the construction site in Chapter 1? What does she think his reaction means?

10. Aunt Elsie is determined to stay up and see the "pervert." Is her (im)patience rewarded? How does she react to his appearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which character serves as the protagonist? What about that person makes him/her the protagonist? Is there more than one protagonist? If so, who? Which protagonist is more important to the story line and why? Or are they equally important? If so, why?

Essay Topic 2

One way to become familiar with the characters in a novel and their importance to the story line is to compare/contrast characters who have a fairly parallel position in the novel. Along these lines, compare/contrast Paul and Matt and each person's relationship with Lizabeth. Then, compare/contrast each person's relationship with Lizabeth's sons. Who makes more of an effort at being a father to Jason and Billy?

Essay Topic 3

Tension is important in working a story toward its climax. There is much tension between Lizabeth and Matt, both physical and psychological. Give an example of tension from the novel. Identify the climax of the novel and describe in detail the importance to the climax of the example you selected.

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