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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. Whose body does Ballard visualize injured in a series of accidents at various stages of her life?

2. According to Ballard, what left an "archipelago of pockmarks" across Vaughan's neck?

3. What fantasies does Vaughan teach Ballard to visualize?

4. According to Vaughan, why is it important for him to have Elizabeth Taylor fill out his questionnaire?

5. How does Vaughan position himself and Catherine in the backseat while Ballard watches them have sex?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of questions from Vaughan's questionnaire is Ballard specifically drawn to?

2. Why is Ballard attracted to Gabrielle?

3. Why does Ballard begin to drive through the city in search of Vaughan?

4. When Ballard and Vaughan arrive at the accident site involving a minor accident, what do they discover?

5. At Seagrave's, what does Ballard deduce about Vaughan's photographs of Elizabeth Taylor and provides insight into why Vaughan followed Ballard?

6. Who are the spectators at the accident site involving the taxi and limo and what role does the scene have in the larger story?

7. What does Ballard think of when he introduces Catherine to Vaughan and why is it relevant?

8. What kinds of pictures does Ballard find in the questionnaire and what do they signify?

9. Why doesn't Ballard intervene on Elizabeth Taylor's behalf when he knew what Vaughan was capable of attempting to hurt her?

10. How do the prostitutes Vaughan picks up begin to change in appearance and why is it significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify and discuss the plot and subplot of "Crash." Make sure you define the terms in your essay response.

1) What is the conflict of the novel?

2) What is the climax of the novel?

3) What is the novel's resolution?

Essay Topic 2

How did readers respond to "Crash" when it was first published? Discuss the critical response of the novel, including reviews, interviews with Ballard, and other readers' response to the novel. How was the novel both vilified or censored as well as hailed by the reading public?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the point of view (POV) in "Crash." Define point of view and make sure to use specific examples from the book while addressing the following in the essay:

1) What is the point of view of the story?

2) What impact does the POV have on the story?

3) How would the story change with a different POV?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 841 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample