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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. Who comes over to visit Bill at his house in chapter 10?

2. Bill brings what food item to the hostage scene?

3. Does Ronny Lawton survive the hostage situation?

4. What do the hostages listen to while being held in Ronny Lawton's house?

5. What liquid does Ronny's estranged mix into her food in chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Bill treated when he is taken in for questioning about Ronny Lawton's disappearance?

2. How did Bill feel after finding Sam dead in his home? Why?

3. Describe the puzzle that is left for Bill on his doorstep.

4. How does Bill and Ronny Lawton's relationship change from the beginning of the story up to the hostage situation?

5. What things do Bill, Ronny, and the hostages do during the stand off?

6. How does Bill feel when he goes to Darlene's shop and is confronted by the female driven world that she and her customers live in?

7. How does Linda Carter make Ronny Lawton seem in her television special?

8. List the items Bill is instructed to bring to Ronny during the beginning of the hostage situation in chapter 15.

9. How do Ed and Sam react when Bill shows them the letter he has deciphered?

10. How does Bill react to the puzzle he finds once he has solved it? Explain.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After escaping from Ronny Lawton's house Bill takes Teri and Lucas to his cottage. Bill loves how isolated the cottage is from the outside world. He reflects upon the memories he and his father had there.

Write an essay exploring Bill's feelings about the cabin and how they tie in to the memories of his father. What activities did he and his father do while staying at the cabin? What sort of food did they eat? How did Bill feel when his father left him alone days at a time while they were there? Reference the novel to support your points.

Essay Topic 2

Bill feels a great sense of freedom after he, Teri, and Lucas leave the cottage in the woods. For the first time in a long time there is some semblance of peace in his mind.

Write an essay exploring how Bill feels about his new found sense of release. What is his lookout on the future? Is he happy, scared, excited, or something else? What is he going to do now that he is free from the shadow of his mansion and past? Who is he taking with him? Reference the novel to support your opinions.

Essay Topic 3

Sam meets an end that is both tragic and pitiful. He never gets to live the retired life he dreamed of. His death occurs suddenly and without provocation.

Write an essay explaining why Sam chose to die as he did. What events in the book foreshadow his death? What actions were taken by Sam that might have seemed suspicious? Did Bill and Ed see Sam as someone who was suicidal? Reference the novel to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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