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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 does Oliver live in this home with the mother of his children and his three children?

2. When Simon appears, who is with him?

3. Blaze can tell that Miles is nervous about a night with her and is compensating by doing what?

4. What does Fortney do to Simon after trying to interrogate him but getting nowhere?

5. How much does Oliver say he will give Rudolph for Dawn’s whereabouts?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Anne Zorn think about aging?

2. What does Blaze believe she hears outside her apartment? What makes her realize she is wrong?

3. How does Blaze make Ambrose practically fall in love with her?

4. Why is Blaze sentimental regarding Dawn?

5. What does Fortney learn when he spies on Blaze and Miles?

6. Why is Ambrose’s attack on Blaze come as a complete surprise to her?

7. How does the reader learn how Dawn would be murdered?

8. Why does Blaze hurriedly pack and leave her apartment?

9. What does Rita Mason hate most about being a vice cop?

10. Why had Anne Zorn ended up in several bad marriages?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Somewhat confusing details are given about the America's Cup. Why does Wambaugh provide these details? Are they important to the overall plot of Floaters? Why or why not? If you were Wambaugh's editor, would you advise him to keep them in his story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Floaters is both a comedy and a tragedy. How is it both a comedy and a tragedy? Is it successful as both a comedy and tragedy? Why or why not? How does this mix of humor and death affect the reader? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Ambrose imagines his mother's face and words prior to killing Blaze. How does his mental instability and traumatic upbringing influence his thoughts, feelings, and choices throughout Floaters? Does any of this influence your feelings about him? Why or why not? Why might Wambaugh have included a character such as Ambrose?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 980 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample