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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 year did the second wave of settlers arrive?

2. What is the most amount the raft will travel in one day?

3. What language was the translator required to speak?

4. What is the name of Heyerdahl's friend that lives in the countryside?

5. What is thrown at the whale shark?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of the trip to Guayaquil?

2. How many trees are felled by the men? Why are the trees named before they are cut down?

3. Under what circumstances does Heyerdahl meet Colonel Haskin? How does the meeting benefit Heyerdahl?

4. How do Heyerdahl and Watzinger procure the necessary items for their trip into the Andes?

5. How do the Polynesians record the history of their people?

6. What/where is Quito? What warning is received in regards to it?

7. Herman is given a pet before the Kon-Tiki sets sail. What is the pet and what happens to it?

8. What is the Peruvian President's interest in the expedition? Does the president help or hinder the expedition?

9. Why do the crew members establish rotating shifts? How is the plan organized?

10. Why was the translator of little use to Heyerdahl and Watzinger? What was the result?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Kon-Tiki ended up docking in the lagoon of a tiny, uninhabited island. While there were no people, there were certain artifacts found. What items are found on the island and what do they indicate? How did the crew respond to finding the items? Was there any way to tell when the artifacts may have been left there? If so, what? What did the crew do with the items?

Essay Topic 2

How do the natives from the nearby island help the crew of the Kon-Tiki? How is the plan acted out? What is the reaction of the other natives? How do the natives welcome the crew? Was the reception appropriate? Were gifts offered? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The crew is surprised when they are able to make radio contact with a ham radio operator in Los Angeles named Hal. Why was the crew surprised to make contact? How did Hal respond to the conversation? Did the crew members ever speak to Hal again? What information was exchanged?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 707 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample