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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. On what morning does the prison warden wake up with chest pain?

2. Who has an intense desire to leave after the reading of the death warrant?

3. McAllister says that if they can secure Sam's alleged accomplice, he would agree to what?

4. Who calls Adam early in the morning about Lee?

5. Who declines, for health reasons, to witness the death?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Sam preparing for his execution?

2. Why does Lee disappear for an entire day and evening?

3. How is Sam's last day a busy one?

4. What happens to the prison warden, and how does it affect Sam's execution?

5. Explain Sam and his relationships with family members as his execution draws closer.

6. Explain the mental incompetence hearing for Sam in Jackson, and the decision.

7. Both Lee and Adam have news for each other. What is the news they share with each other?

8. What was the purpose of Adam's trip to New Orleans?

9. What leads Lee on another alcoholic binge?

10. Adam meets with Mr. Olander. Who is Mr. Olander, and what is the meeting about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Adam finds out much about his family from Lee; however, he does not learn all of this information until the age of sixteen. Adam, through Lee, learns how much of a dysfunctional family he belongs to. Dysfunctional families affect each person differently, depending upon how close you are to the dysfunction. How does being a part of a dysfunctional family affect Lee? How does it affect Adam? Give examples from the novel that prove this.

Essay Topic 2

Lee was once an alcoholic, but now is not. However, Lee has recently binged. What has caused Lee to relapse into drinking again? What does she do to try to cover up the fact that she has relapsed back to drinking? Is the relapse back to drinking related to Sam, her involvement with Adam, or for no particular reason? Give specific details from the novel to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

One of Adam's personality characteristics is his vulnerability. Where do we see this personality trait of Adam's throughout the novel, and how do we start to see this vulnerability more towards the end of the novel? When do we see this vulnerability, and who witnesses this vulnerability? What contributes to this vulnerability? Is this hereditary? Give examples from the story to justify your answers.

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This section contains 978 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample