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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. What does Leeds do right before going over to Blaze and the crowd of sailors?

2. What does Ambrose change into to wait for Blaze?

3. What is the Keeper of the Cup relieved will not disrupt coverage of the regatta?

4. What does the Black man hiding in the shadows outside Dawn’s apartment do after Letch leaves Dawn’s apartment?

5. As Rita catches Johns, how do many of them react?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Norman Boggs get the nickname Letch?

2. How does the thought of losing the Cup feel to the Keeper of the Cup?

3. What is the significance of Blaze’s name for herself?

4. Why does Simon Cooke hate the Kiwis?

5. How does the Keeper of the Cup feel about his plan to keep the Cup?

6. What are cuppies and sail-stupids?

7. What does Letch do to deal with his neighbor’s annoying dog?

8. What two real events let the reader know the time period of the story?

9. How does Letch try to help Dawn?

10. What are Dawn’s future plans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Somewhat confusing details are given about the America's Cup. Why does Wambaugh provide these details? Are they important to the overall plot of Floaters? Why or why not? If you were Wambaugh's editor, would you advise him to keep them in his story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Wambaugh gives both Dawn and Blaze wholesome real names. Why might he have chosen the names he did? How do these names aid the reader in connecting with both Dawn and Blaze? How might these women feel about their given names and to the past to which those names are tied?

Essay Topic 3

How did you feel when you read the part of Floaters in which Dawn is murdered? How does this compare to when Blaze is murdered? Did you feel the same way? Why or why not? Were you prepared for either of these murders? Why or why not? How might this play into how you felt during the murders?

(see the answer keys)

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