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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. How much water flows through the Colorado River, according to the narrator in Chapter 1?

2. Who was killed by the Vet's pets when Sarah attended a party at his compound?

3. What book does Angel reach for on Lucy's shelf in Chapter 16?

4. What is the name of Catherine Case's daughter?

5. Where does Julio say the Coca-Cola bottling plant is relocating in Chapter 13?

Short Essay Questions

1. What character transformation begins to occur in Chapter 11?

2. How is the narrative of The Water Knife related?

3. How do the antagonists for Angel, Lucy, and Maria differ?

4. How is Angel's character introduced in Chapter 1? What does the author reveal about his character in this chapter?

5. What is the signifcance of the allusions to Cadillac Desert in Chapter 18?

6. What is the purpose of the author revealing Angel's back-story in Chapter 4?

7. What is established through the exchange between Lucy and Angel in Chapter 16?

8. How does Lucy differ from the other main characters in terms of privilege?

9. How does Maria's perspective differ from those of the other main characters when she is introduced in Chapter 3?

10. What motif appears in Chapter 16? What does this motif foreshadow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term "antihero" and discuss how this term applies to Angel's character in The Water Knife. What personality traits does Angel exhibit that make him an antihero? How do Angel's actions in the novel contribute to this title? Is an antihero a protagonist or antagonist?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Maria's entrapment at the Vet's compound in the narrative. Why has Maria been held captive? What looming danger does she face while she is entrapped? How does Maria's entrapment act as a metaphor in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the first interactions between the main characters of The Water Knife. When does Angel first meet Lucy? When does he first meet Maria? When does Maria meet Lucy? How does the author portray the relationships between these characters?

(see the answer keys)

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