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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. How much is the water at the Red Cross/China Friendship water pump in Chapter 3?

2. What book does Angel reach for on Lucy's shelf in Chapter 16?

3. Where does Angel go to fufill Catherine Case's orders in Chapter 1?

4. What is "da dong" translated as in Chapter 14?

5. Where was Lucy's friend's murdered body discovered?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the principle setting of The Water Knife? How is this setting described?

2. How is the narrative of The Water Knife related?

3. What does Angel learn about Lucy in Chapter 13? How does this information affect him?

4. What irony can be seen in the encounter between Lucy and Maria in Chapters 14 and 15?

5. What is established through the exchange between Lucy and Angel in Chapter 16?

6. What is the signifcance of the allusions to Cadillac Desert in Chapter 18?

7. How is Lucy's character juxtaposed against Angel's in Chapter 2?

8. How is Angel's character introduced in Chapter 1? What does the author reveal about his character in this chapter?

9. In Chapters 17 through 20, the three main characters finally come into direct contact with one another. How does this impact the narrative?

10. What character transformation begins to occur in Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of power in The Water Knife. Who in the novel holds the most power? How is this power illustrated? What or who are the symbols of power in Lucy's, Angel's, and Maria's story lines?

Essay Topic 2

What makes Lucy try to take the water rights in the end of the novel? Do you think she is justified in doing so? Why or why not? What obstacle does this action present to the other main characters?

Essay Topic 3

How is the theme of water and drought illustrated in the novel? What are examples of imagery and symbolism that reinforce this theme? How does the author explore this theme through character, action, and setting?

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