Close to Shore: The Terrifying Shark Attacks of 1916 Test | Mid-Book Test - Easy

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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. As the young shark develops, his hunger turns him toward prey such as _______________.
(a) Orcas and whales.
(b) Seals and dolphins.
(c) Small fish and crustaceans.
(d) Humans.

2. Beach life had deteriorated in some minds from the many young people visiting, who engaged in what?
(a) Dates without chaperones.
(b) Gambling and drinking.
(c) Aggressive sporting events.
(d) Heavy drinking and dancing to suggestive songs.

3. Who does the boy miss at the beginning of the book?
(a) His mother.
(b) His fiancee.
(c) His brother.
(d) His sister.

4. While the young shark is off the coast of Florida, it may be caught in the warm Gulf Stream currents, which does what to the shark?
(a) The high temperature disorients the shark.
(b) The high temperature makes it irritable and hungry.
(c) The high temperature makes it uncomfortable and struggle to hunt and feed.
(d) The high temperature makes it hungry for human flesh.

5. The great white, even in modern times, remains what?
(a) A significant danger to man.
(b) Much of a mystery.
(c) Of no interest to man.
(d) A creature of interest.

6. What might have been the reason for the hotel to keep down word of the incident?
(a) To avoid depressing the tourist trade.
(b) To avoid mass chaos and fear.
(c) To see if the boy had been attacked by a shark or had drowned.
(d) To avoid a law suit.

7. _______________ staff physician, Dr. William G. Schauffler, completed the official report.
(a) The Mayor's.
(b) The Governor's.
(c) The President's.
(d) The hotel manager's.

8. Some hotel guests worried about the incident, others were sure the incident had been exaggerated and believed what had happened to the young man?
(a) He had a heart attack.
(b) He had been chased by a shark.
(c) He had a cramp and had to swim to the shore.
(d) He had drowned.

9. Eugene and Louisa Vansant did what with their daughters at dusk while their eldest child, Charles, romped with the family dog in the waters off the beach?
(a) Strolled along the boardwalk.
(b) Went dancing.
(c) Went to the movies.
(d) Had dinner.

10. Later scientists attributed Oelrichs' success to what probability?
(a) The sharks were juvenile great whites.
(b) The sharks were small, non-aggressive species.
(c) He thought a school of orcas were actually sharks.
(d) The great whites were not hungry at the time he jumped in the water.

11. The shark stayed in the struggle until when?
(a) Its underside was scraping the sand.
(b) It was attacked by those helping Charles.
(c) It decided it was full.
(d) It was shot by a man on the beach.

12. The wealthy family of Dr. Eugene Vansant rode in a Pullman with their nannies and servants for a stay in ______________.
(a) Wilmington Beach.
(b) Far Rockaway.
(c) Howard Beach.
(d) Beach Haven.

13. Was it common to see sharks along the Atlantic coast?
(a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Yes, very frequently.
(d) Yes, but rarely.

14. After the shark attacked, what had happened to Bruder?
(a) The shark had scraped his side.
(b) The shark bumped into him.
(c) The shark had bitten his hand.
(d) The shark had bitten off his feet.

15. People on the beach noticed what about Charles?
(a) He looked fatigued.
(b) A dark fin was following closely behind him.
(c) His dog was paddling behind him.
(d) He looked like he had been attacked.

Short Answer Questions

1. What rumors were rampant?

2. The headline in the Times read, "_____________________."

3. A new smell, the scent of _______________________, also would have piqued the interest of the shark.

4. The next day, articles appeared in both the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer about the shark attack. Where were these articles located?

5. As Gertrude stroked along parallel to the coastline, what happened to her?

(see the answer keys)

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