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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. What do Kerans and Bodkin place on the roof of the penthouse?

2. What type of insects does Kerans see buzzing past his balcony?

3. What does Beatrice point out to Kerans in Chapter 7?

4. What does Kerans see in his dream while looking at the lagoon?

5. What does Hardman do when he sees Kerans, Macready, and Caldwell pursuing him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What scientific idea does Bodkin propose?

2. How does Kerans perceive the changing environment and the impending submergence of the city?

3. Can you describe the “flooded city” in the novel?

4. Why do Kerans and Beatrice decide to reveal themselves to the freebooters?

5. What object does Kerans take from the armory and why?

6. How does the novel address the concept of evolution?

7. What does the conversation between Riggs and Kerans reveal about their roles and concerns in this changing world?

8. Which character is shot and injured by Hardman and how did it happen?

9. In what way are the flora and fauna evolving?

10. What is the significance of Riggs' departure in relation to the remaining characters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Pick one of the main characters and write an essay showing how they have changed over the course of the book. What led to their changes? Why did they change the way they did?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the role of technology in the drowned world and its juxtaposition with the primitive instincts and behaviors that emerge in the characters.

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This section contains 923 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample