1) Pg. 30 Par. 3
"They were notÖexciting to miss."
How does the author describe the town once the trials are started?
The author describes the town as falling apart.  Nothing mattered but the trial and nobody did any work while these trials were taking place.

2) Pg. 33 and 34
"She choked and gasped, as if she were wrestling with an invisible person."
What are the two things being compared in this paragraph?
Her choking and gasping compared to someone wrestling.