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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. When does Riggs tell Kerans that he is leaving him and Strangman behind?

2. How does Bodkin unintentionally disclose his familiarity with the drained basin?

3. How does Strangman entice the trio to leave their seclusion in Chapter 9?

4. What does Kerans discover upon returning to his abandoned rooms at The Ritz?

5. How does Kerans sustain an injury in Chapter 14?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kerans manage to escape from being pinned below the inverted throne?

2. What does Kerans notice about Strangman's skin?

3. How does Kerans react when he realizes the water level in the lagoon is decreasing?

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

5. How does Kerans navigate his journey south and what challenges does he face?

6. Who is carrying a bomb at the dinner party and what happens?

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

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

9. What is Riggs' justification for not arresting Strangman and his plan for the lagoons?

10. How does Kerans' opinion of Strangman change over time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the psychological effects of the extreme environmental changes on the characters. How does the heat and the flooded world affect their mental health?

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

How does The Drowned World critique modern society's disregard for the environment? How does the book suggest we should respond to climate change?

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