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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. The disorganized killer is often acting on the orders of ________ who tell them to commit the crime.

2. Who would lure unsuspecting women with his charm and then kill and mutilate them?

3. Ressler suggests that the murderer is a white male _________.

4. What was cut open on Terry's body when her husband found her dead after his work shift?

5. Serial killers are often obsessed with their ________, thinking about them for days or weeks before they occur.

Short Essay Questions

1. What sort of data does Ressler collect in relationship to serial killers and their murderous actions?

2. What did the killer try to convey in the messages that he left after the killings?

3. What does Ressler find to be the relationship between serial killers and their mothers?

4. What happens to many serial killers as they grow up in an isolated world?

5. What were the details of the case that led Ressler, as a child, to become interested in crime solving?

6. What does Ressler decide to do when he learns about the new murder case and its possible connection to other unsolved cases?

7. What was the difference that Ressler noticed in the murderer Richard Speck?

8. Why do many disorganized killers tend to not drive to their crimes?

9. What was the criminal past of the murderer who threatened to kill Ressler?

10. What did the young Ressler do in response to the murder cases he learned about as a child?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In many of Ressler's cases, his profiling details are precise and they lead officials to the murderer.

Part 1: Why do you think serial killers have certain profiles and characteristics?

Part 2: Do you think it should be simple to categorize killers?

Part 3: How do you think a person can fully understand the thoughts of a murderer without being one?

Essay Topic 2

In some serial killer cases, the killers say that they are told to follow through on the killing because voices told them to do so.

Part 1: Why are many serial killers driven by the voices of others?

Part 2: Do you believe that serial killers are actually hearing voices or just making excuses?

Part 3: How do you think serial killers could be assisted in not listening to the voices that tell them to kill?

Essay Topic 3

During his time at BSU, Ressler studied killers who seemed to enjoy the act of killing others.

Part 1: Why do you think some serial killers appear to enjoy killing their victims?

Part 2: How do you think a person can begin to enjoy the act of killing others? Or, is it inherent in their personality?

Part 3: Do you think that you could ever change into a person who would enjoy killing others?

(see the answer keys)

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