Affirmative Action
by Kegler

Each clue has an extra word separating the definition from the word play (removal of this word may destroy the surface sense of the clue, but will not affect either the definition
or the word play).  The first letters of these words, when read in clue order, propose a question that is answered by the otherwise unclued entries at 1 and 35 Across.

Across 1 See instructions 6 Garnish includes a small shot (5) 9 Predator stalks the French, old chum (7) 10 Sea mammal native in two west coast states (4) 12 Draws torsos, arms and legs for the audience (5) 15 Top-notch attorney introduces opera (4) 16 Bending line; try tracing in a sluggish way (7) 17 America pursuing wrong subordinate channel (5) 19 Sue refined her application (3) 20 In sharing, worker replaces piece, observantly looking ahead (12) 22 Awkwardly rationalizes controversial achievements (12) 24 Not many keep iron and tungsten (3) 26 Take down innocuously funny pun, for example (5) 28 Source of aluminum near location of pitcher's error, we hear (7) 30 Fled one grotesque Hindu queen (4) 31 Extremely crazy streets having abnormal bumps (5) 32 That operator holds one on (4) 33 Strange pick, furnishing bed in worker's control room (7) 34 Broken thorn yields point (5) 35 See instructions

Down 1 Cries over one-third of yearly records (5) 2 Do I look back, carrying unusual mixture? (4) 3 At first, jump on bedcover, almost marring flower (7) 4 Hybridize a zinnia, to its ill-fated sterilization (12) 5 Lean nearer initially, in hypnotized state, grasping for clarity (12) 6 Farewell, handsome lad, I eulogized internally (5) 7 Quietly assess teenagers' chatter (5) 8 Fires engulfing, in the distance, beautiful valleys (7) 11 Mostly calm area extolling Italian dish (7) 13 Starts to mix ingredients natural to chocolate candy (4) 14 Call for help occurs; thus, start to scream (3) 18 Imprecise measurement in deed by former spouse? (7) 20 In a bar, a confused, excitable horse (7) 21 Old picture actor's tiny pet moving tail? (7) 23 Decides youngster smashed post (4) 24 Loud juror doesn't begin earsplitting uproar (5) 25 Hoist saintly women in church (5) 26 Our group starting to consider medical school (3) 27 Surge of initially ardent enthusiasm (5) 29 Envelope admonition needed by Tennessee (4)

Solution