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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 Spiro show Stephanie in Chapter Seven?

2. What crashes into Stephanie at a gun sale?

3. What does Stephanie admire about Morelli?

4. What does the unlocked door in Kenny's vehicle signal to Stephanie?

5. Why does Stephanie hope Spiro will make a sexual move on her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did parts of the 'Burg seem to become less fortunate than others?

2. When Spiro produces an unsigned letter much like the one Stephanie received, what does this device achieve?

3. There are many examples of irreverence that take place at the funeral home. For example, the group that attends the K and C funeral get rowdy and drunk. How does this device help the story?

4. Stephanie is often shown consuming what type of food throughout the story?

5. What do Grandma Mazur and Eula have in common?

6. Does the fact that the stolen guns are from Fort Braddock mean that Kenny is guilty?

7. How does the 'Burg help with the job Stephanie is trying to do?

8. Why does Stephanie visit dangerous suspects without back-up?

9. Why is Stephanie occasionally dishonest when seeking answers for her case?

10. What does the hamster Rex offer to Stephanie? How does this contrast with Morelli?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, guns made a significant appearance. Discuss whether guns were portrayed as good or evil, and in the end, what this might mean in terms of the author's philosophy on firearms.

Part 1) Cite and discuss where guns were portrayed positively in the story and why.

Part 2) Cite and discuss where guns were portrayed negatively in the story and why.

Part 3) Explain Stephanie's relationship to her gun. Why did she keep it in a jar? Why did she rely on her stun gun instead? Was it ironic that Stephanie used a stun gun to go save Grandma Mazur, but it was Grandma Mazur's real gun that saved the day?

Essay Topic 2

There were several criminals involved in the many crimes committed throughout the novel: Kenny, the Sandman, Spiro and Moogey. Choose one of these criminals and analyze the different factors that contributed to his downfall.

Essay Topic 3

The 'Burg was practically a character in the novel itself. This community had a life of its own and beliefs of its own that shaped the characters and the outcome of the story.

Part 1) Describe the 'Burg. What were its unique qualities? How did its character affect the story?

Part 2) What is the significance of the 'Burg in this novel? Could the same story be as believable without the 'Burg as a location?

Part 3) If you were to offer up a different setting for the story, what would be a location option as strong as this one and why?

(see the answer keys)

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