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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. In Chapter 7, how long has it been since Riggs and his men departed?

2. Where does Kerans stay in the hotel?

3. What does Kerans realize about the scenery he admired from his balcony?

4. Why does Kerans take a compass from the armory?

5. What task do Kerans and Bodkin perform at the base?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who yells out of the door of a helicopter to Beatrice and Kerans and what does he say?

2. Can you describe the “flooded city” in the novel?

3. How is the earth portrayed differently in this book?

4. What eats Kerans’ catamaran and why?

5. Why do Kerans and Beatrice decide to reveal themselves to the freebooters?

6. How does Kerans escape the caiman and reach Beatrice's doorstep?

7. Which character is shot and injured by Hardman and how did it happen?

8. What is the significance of Kerans' indifference towards the drowned cities they visit?

9. How does Kerans perceive his role after realizing the others are gone?

10. How did the geophysical upheavals impact Earth's climate and the distribution of life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Ballard use the character of Beatrice Dahl to explore the theme of femininity in The Drowned World? What role does femininity play in the book?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the symbolism of animals in The Drowned World. How do the animals, both extinct and mutated, contribute to the overall meaning of the story?

Essay Topic 3

In The Drowned World, the characters are often forced to confront their own mortality. Discuss the theme of mortality in the book and how it affects the characters.

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