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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 is unusual about some of Crystal's diary entries?

2. Who was Carl Iverson found guilty of murdering?

3. What disorder does Jeremy live with?

4. Which of the following is NOT a condition of Joe's mom's release from custody?

5. Which of Crystal Hagen's personal posessions is discussed in the trial files?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Carl's request for a speedy trial something that his defense considered unusual?

2. What does Carl require from Joe if he is going to allow him to know and write his life story?

3. How does Joe resolve his guilt of leaving Jeremy with his mother and Larry?

4. Joe's mother is bipolar. How does Joe describe her behavior in Chapter 3?

5. How does Joe use Carl's case to get to know Lila better?

6. Carl and Joe make some big assumptions about each other during their first meeting. What does Carl assume about Joe?

7. How does Joe try to get Lila Nash to notice him at the beginning of the book?

8. What crime was Carl Iverson convicted of committing?

9. How does Joe end up interviewing Carl Iverson?

10. What is the purpose of Carl's "dying declaration"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lila's backstory is revealed in Chapter 28. How does she feel about her past? How does it still affect her in the present? What does Joe say in response to her admission? What is it about his life that makes him feel the way he does?

Essay Topic 2

Carl makes one more confession in Chapter 31. What does he confess to Joe and how does Joe feel about the confession? In Chapter 6 Carl tells Joe that there is a difference between killing and murdering, then says, "I've done both. I've killed . . . and I've murdered" (44). Explain his comment in light of Carl's final confession.

Essay Topic 3

Who is Virgil Gray and why is he important to the story? How does Virgil act as a bridge between Joe and Carl? Without Virgil would Joe have taken the time to find out more about Carl as a person?

(see the answer keys)

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