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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 does Waakzaamheid try to destroy on Leopard?

2. What does the crew believe is causing the Dutch ship's ability to stay with Leopard?

3. How does Waakzaamheid finally close in on Leopard?

4. How is Desolation Island marked on the charts?

5. Why does the Waakzaamheid finally sink?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Aubrey decide to do after missing an island on which to land and who does he bring up as a possible reason for pessimism?

2. How does Aubrey feel when the Dutch ship sinks?

3. What does the crew do after being safely anchored and what repair is impossible and why?

4. How does the author attempt to make Aubrey appear?

5. How does Aubrey win the battle with the Dutch ship?

6. Why is Leopard in danger in Chapter 8 and how much danger is there?

7. Why does Leopard end up too far south?

8. What does Herapath's relating his experience with opium cause Maturin to do and why?

9. What does the fact that the Waakzaamheid has found the Leopard mean as far as the Dutch captain goes?

10. Why does Aubrey decide Cape Town is not a good destination?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In addition to understanding the war in which O'Brian's novels are set, it is quite helpful to have a basic understanding of nautical terminology and the types of ships and their armaments that were used during the early 1800s. Discuss the following:

1. Define ten of the most commonly-used shipboard terms and discuss how those terms are used in Desolation Island.

2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ships used in the early 1800s?

3. How is the British navy organized during this period (early 1800s) and how different do you think it is organized today (including how one rises in rank).

4. Compare/contrast one of the naval battles described in the novel with one from WWII.

Essay Topic 2

Sailors are notoriously superstitious. Even Aubrey, though very bright in many ways, is somewhat superstitious, a trait common to many sailors. Discuss the following:

1. What is superstition? Can you name a few common superstitions? Do any of them seem to have any validity in logic?

2. Why do you think sailors have the reputation for being superstitious? Do you think it is true? What superstitions are mentioned in Desolation Island?

3. What are some of the superstitions you are familiar with that sailors seem to believe? Do you believe any of them? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Much attention is given to the treatment of both wounds and illnesses by Maturin. Maturin seems far more advanced than the typical doctor of that era. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the medical remedies Maturin uses in Desolation Island to that which would be done in our modern world.

2. Many wars are partially, if not completely, determined by factors other than the actual fighting. One of those factors is disease. Research and discuss how epidemics/pandemics have influenced the outcome of three different wars throughout history.

3. Discuss some of the medical remedies Maturin performs/uses that were probably not used in that era.

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