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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. _______________ staff physician, Dr. William G. Schauffler, completed the official report.

2. The thousands of ________________ that cover their skin aid in their maneuverability and speed.

3. Many years later, ichthyologist George Burgess concluded that the shark was a _________, serial killer, but in the rhetoric of the day, the shark was a sea monster.

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?

5. In 1915, a _______________ editorial was written entitled, "Let Us Do Justice To Sharks."

Short Essay Questions

1. How did shark attacks become more possible in the summer of 1916?

2. How does the story begin? How is this chapter important?

3. Why does the great white still remain much of a mystery today?

4. Describe the 1891 experiment. Is this a valid experiment? Why or why not?

5. What information is given about a specific shark? Why is this information important?

6. What might have drawn this particular shark north?

7. Why did Charles Bruder decide to go for a swim?

8. What might have drawn the shark to the shore? How is this a plausible explanation?

9. What about swimmers specifically at this time helped sharks to believe humans were actually sea creatures? Would this be a problem today? Why or why not?

10. When did information regarding Charles' death finally appear in the news? Describe this information. Why might it the information have appeared this way?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sharks have existed since the Age of Reptiles.

Part 1) Describe the Great White shark. How is it well-adapted for its environment? Why has it not evolved since the Age of Reptiles? What makes it such a successful species? How does this also make it a danger to humans?

Part 2) How is the shark repeatedly shown to be a powerful and dangerous creature? Although dangerous, is the shark an evil man-eater? Why or why not? How do other areas of the book support your response?

Part 3) What is another animal that is high on the food chain and adapts well to changes in its environment? How does this animal compare to the shark? How dangerous is this animal to mankind? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

By the end of the book, the shark was quite ill.

Part 1) Describe the shark. How big was it? How old did they estimate it to be? What was its life like? How was it affected by its travels up the Atlantic coast? Why did it travel north? How did the weakening of the shark and its constant hunger affect those living along the coast?

Part 2) What role might humans play in the shark coming close to shore? How might humans have also played a role in the shark's ill health? What could be done to keep Great Whites alive and healthy and to protect humans as well?

Part 3) How influential is mankind on the natural world? How has the natural world and its creatures been affected by human populations, pollutions, and other actions? What can be done to reverse some of these effects?

Essay Topic 3

By the time the shark was caught, many feared swimming in the waters of the Atlantic.

Part 1) Describe the reaction to the news of the shark attacks at the beginning of this book. Why did people react this way? How did this reaction change over the course of the book? Why did it change?

Part 2) How was this fear of swimming in the Atlantic perpetuated for years after the shark was caught? Why were people so fearful after years with no attacks? Should they have been fearful? Why or why not?

Part 3) Should sharks be feared today? Why or why not? What can be done to protect both humans and sharks from each other? Is this being done? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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