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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 death does Ballard begin to think about in a "more calculated way" than the one Vaughan designed for a famous film actress?

2. According to Ballard, who wears her hair in a "simulated Afro wig"?

3. Who give Vaughan a set of passkeys so that he could take cars from the airport parking lots?

4. Who does Vaughan tell Ballard that Seagrave may follow after disappearing in a wig and leopard-skin coat?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Ballard's response to Catherine sleeping with Vaughan?

2. Where do Catherine and Vaughan have sex and why is it significant?

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

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

5. What is the purpose of Vaughan's questionnaire?

6. What kinds of photos are in the album Vaughan shows Ballard at Seagrave's house and what does Ballard notice about them?

7. Describe Catherine's fantasies about Vaughan, how they pertain to Ballard, and their impact on her and Ballard's marriage.

8. What does Ballard fantasize about as he has sex with Gabrielle and what does it mean?

9. What is Elizabeth Taylor shooting at the studio where Ballard works and how is it significant?

10. How does Ballard respond to Vaughan's request to give one of the questionnaires to Elizabeth Taylor and what does it show about his character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Automobiles play a major role in the novel. Choose 2 characters and discuss their relationship to vehicles. What is their purpose in the novel and what are they a metaphor for? Make sure to define metaphor in your discussion.

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

Ballard details the urban landscape throughout the novel, from the car impound to the airport flyover, the abandoned lot to the parking garage. Choose 2 urban landscapes and discuss their purpose in the novel. What do they represent for the characters? How do the characters respond to these landscapes?

(see the answer keys)

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