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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who does the boy fear will defeat the Yankees?
(a) The Red Sox.
(b) The Cleveland Indians.
(c) The Baltimore Orioles.
(d) The White Sox.

2. What does Santiago consider as his principal friends on the ocean?
(a) The flying fish.
(b) The song birds.
(c) The giant turtles.
(d) The dolphins.

3. What happens to Santiago as he carries the mast up the hill?
(a) He gets tangled up in the sail.
(b) He hears the boy calling his name.
(c) He falls and cannot get up.
(d) He has a heart attack and dies.

4. What does the boy order for Santiago at the Terrace Cafe?
(a) Hot coffee with plenty of milk and sugar.
(b) Yellow rice and fried fish.
(c) Two bottles of warm beer.
(d) A bag of ice to help bring down his fever.

5. What happens to snap the old man out of his conversation with the bird?
(a) The fish gives a strong yank on the line.
(b) Several shark fins appear in the water.
(c) An albacore jumps into his boat.
(d) The bird starts singing.

6. What does the marlin do as the sun rises on the third day?
(a) It picks up speed and swims on top of the water.
(b) It jumps every ten minutes.
(c) It tries to chew the line.
(d) It begins circling the boat.

7. When does Santiago finally see the lights of the city?
(a) Early the next morning before dawn.
(b) About ten at night.
(c) Just as he is about to give up.
(d) After the moon rises.

8. What does the old man conclude defeated him?
(a) His cramped left hand.
(b) Nothing. He only went too far out.
(c) Not having the boy with him.
(d) The broken knife blade.

9. How many times does the old man have to stop and sit down on his way to his shack?
(a) 6 times.
(b) 3 times.
(c) 5 times.
(d) 2 times.

10. As the sun sets, what advantage does Santiago tell himself he has over the marlin?
(a) He has eaten but the marlin has not.
(b) On the surface, he can see the stars but the marlin cannot.
(c) Night time is easier for a man than for a fish.
(d) He will be able to sleep but the marlin cannot.

11. After many tries to get the marlin alongside the skiff, what does Santiago reach for?
(a) Another bite of flying fish.
(b) His water bottle.
(c) His harpoon.
(d) His large casting net.

12. After killing the Mako shark, what is Santiago aware of as missing?
(a) His casting net.
(b) His harpoon.
(c) The tradewinds.
(d) The feeling in his left hand.

13. What does the old man think about to build up his courage as the sun sets on the second day?
(a) He thinks about how the boy looks up to him as a great fisherman.
(b) He remembers surviving after falling overboard.
(c) He remembers arm wrestling and defeating the Negro from Cienfuegos.
(d) He recalls killing a shark while he was swimming one day.

14. How thick is the line the old man uses to catch big fish?
(a) As big around as a pencil.
(b) About as thick as an oar handle.
(c) Very small but strong.
(d) A big around as his thumb.

15. Does Santiago think of the wind as his friend?
(a) No, because it storms a lot in the Caribbean.
(b) No, because it is fickle.
(c) Yes. Sometimes.
(d) Yes, because it is always there.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Santiago missing that will not allow him to attract a flying fish to land in his skiff?

2. What happens to make the old man forget his aches and pains?

3. Santiago is pinned down and the line is rushing out around his back and through his hand, cutting them. What makes him think about the boy?

4. What are Santiago's last three weapons he can use against the sharks?

5. Why does the old man wish to take Joe DiMaggio fishing?

(see the answer keys)

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