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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Catherine, when was the last time she spoke to Leona before her death?
(a) One week.
(b) Two days.
(c) Three months.
(d) Six months.

2. What does Catherine realize about the dog she saw at the beginning of the novel?
(a) The dog must belong to the killer.
(b) The dog must have belonged to her father's nurse.
(c) The dog was a potential witness to the crime.
(d) The same person who killed her father's nurse killed the dog.

3. What is the name of Martin Barnes' daughter?
(a) Sally.
(b) Mary.
(c) Betty.
(d) Julie.

4. What does Molly Perkins bring to Catherine's house?
(a) Gumbo.
(b) Lentils.
(c) Fried chicken.
(d) Apple pie.

5. Who is Betty?
(a) The town librarian.
(b) Carl Perkins' mother-in-law.
(c) Catherine's parents' retired maid.
(d) Catherine's best friend.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of Molly Perkins' son?

2. Why did Tom ask Catherine for a beer?

3. What is the name of the dispatcher at the sheriff's office?

4. What did Catherine's grandfather call his cotton farm?

5. Whose number was at the top of Tom's phone list?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Catherine doing at the beginning of the novel?

2. How does Randall explain his feelings to Catherine? What had he done to get her to notice him? How did he feel when she did not notice him?

3. Who does Catherine see on the way to the farm the day she discovers the body? Where does she see this person? How does she feel about telling this to the sheriff?

4. How does Catherine know that Tom is in trouble in Chapter 11?

5. How did Catherine feel about Leona Gaites?

6. Describe Molly Perkins' apparent emotional state when Catherine pays the Perkins a visit in Chapter 9. Why does Catherine believe she is acting the way she is? What does Carl tell Catherine is Molly's reason for acting strangely?

7. What is the exchange between Catherine and the sheriff like and how does Catherine feel about this?

8. What do we learn about the death of Catherine's parents in Chapter 4? How does it connect with Leona Gaites?

9. Do you believe that Catherine's discovery of Tom's body has lessened or heightened Sheriff Galton's suspicion of her? What else in Chapter 11 could contribute to the heightening or lessening of the sheriff's suspicion of Catherine?

10. What is the point of the buzzer that Catherine points out to Tom in his house? Does the author's inclusion of this indicate anything in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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