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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 does Catherine realize about the dog she saw at the beginning of the novel?

2. What was Catherine wearing when she learned about the death of her parents?

3. What was the name of Catherine's mother?

4. Where is the sheriff's office located?

5. Who taught Catherine how to shoot?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Catherine become suspicious of everyone in town in Chapter 10? What does this tell us about her at this point in the novel?

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. Catherine receives a telephone call from Sally, Martin Barnes' daughter. She is calling to offer her condolences, but she also offers up some information about Martin. What is that information, and what does Catherine deduce as a result of the information?

5. What is the atmosphere at work like on Tuesday? When is the newspaper deadline and what mishaps occur to stress the workers of the paper?

6. What does Jewel Crenna reveal to Catherine regarding Martin Barnes? How has Catherine's statement to the sheriff affected Martin Barnes' private life?

7. What do we learn about Catherin Linton in the first chapter and what do these descriptions tell us about her character?

8. Who is the killer? What is his or her medical diagnosis and why does it lead to murder?

9. Who is interested in Tom Mascalco? Why does this person confide in Catherine? What is this person's reaction to Catherine and Tom's friendship?

10. Explain why Catherine has to drive Tom to work on Tuesday and Leila's reaction to seeing them together.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss some of the literary devices used in the novel including foreshadowing, metaphor, mood, imagery and others that are present in the novel "Sweet and Deadly." Provide examples of where these devices are used and how they impact the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Explore the character of Molly Perkins. There are several clues that suggest that Molly knew all along what her husband, Carl, was doing. What are they? Provide examples from the book. Why would Molly consent to this type of behavior from Carl? Was she just as concerned with public reputation or was she just being loyal to her husband? Do you think that Molly was under threat of death for her silence as everyone else?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the character of Carl Perkins. How does this character present himself in the novel? What clues can Catherine look back on concerning her interactions with Carl to determine that he is in fact the murderer? Discuss Carl Perkins' motives for committing the murders. Would you say that Carl is the typical culprit in a murder mystery?

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This section contains 1,666 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample