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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 many weeks does Ballard stay in the hospital after the crash in Chapter 2?

2. What kind of films did Ballard and Catherine see at the small art-cinema near their home?

3. Where does Ballard take one of the three prostitutes to?

4. According to Ballard at the end of Chapter 2, the radiator grills of their cars resembled what?

5. What do all the cars Ballard drives remind him of?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the hospital, what does Ballard begin to do once he's mobile and how is it significant?

2. How does the wife of the man killed in the crash with Ballard react to the crash and why is it significant?

3. How do Ballard, Helen, and Vaughan react to Seagrave's accident at the stock-car races and why is it significant?

4. What are Ballard's injuries from his crash with the man and his wife and how does he respond to them?

5. Why does Ballard wear a seat belt when he crashes his car and how is it significant?

6. Who is with Dr. Helen Remington in the hospital and why is it significant?

7. Who is Karen and why is she significant?

8. Why doesn't Catherine attend the funeral for Dr. Helen Remington's husband and what does it show about her character?

9. What dominates Ballard's thoughts as he recovers in the hospital and why is it significant?

10. What kind of car does Ballard buy after his accident and what does it signify?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify and discuss the plot and subplot of "Crash." Make sure you define the terms in your essay response.

1) What is the conflict of the novel?

2) What is the climax of the novel?

3) What is the novel's resolution?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Ballard, the author, with his eponymous character.

1) What are the similarities and differences between the author and his creation?

2) Why did Ballard name his protagonist after himself?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the body as a major theme in the novel. Make sure you define theme in your discuss and use specific examples to address each of the following:

1) How does Ballard describe the human body in terms of its purpose and function?

2) Choose 3 characters and detail how their bodies are affected by violence?

3) Compare Ballard's description of the human body with the body of a car. What are their similarities and differences?

(see the answer keys)

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