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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. Why do Strangman and his crew cease searching for Kerans in Chapter 12?

2. What does Kerans mention in relation to moving south across the silt flats?

3. Why does Riggs claim that he cannot arrest Strangman?

4. How does Kerans depict the streets below in Chapter 13?

5. How long does Kerans stay with Hardman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Strangman's offer of a ship tour signify for Kerans, Beatrice, and Bodkin?

2. How does Kerans react when Sergeant Macready spots him and the dynamite?

3. Why does Kerans search for the black boxes containing dynamite?

4. After the bomb fizzles out, how does Strangman react?

5. What does Kerans see in the old planetarium?

6. What does Strangman give Beatrice?

7. How does the wrecked penthouse suite influence Kerans' perspective and decision-making?

8. What brings Strangman to the lagoon and why does he invite Kerans to dinner?

9. How does Kerans react when he stumbles upon the remains of a small temple?

10. Why did Riggs turn around and come back when he suspected Strangman's presence?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Ballard use the character of Dr. Robert Kerans to explore the theme of scientific progress in The Drowned World? What is the relationship between science and nature in the book?

Essay Topic 2

How does Ballard use the character of Kerans to explore the theme of isolation in The Drowned World? Give examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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