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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What worries Santiago as he returns to Cuba in the night?
(a) That people are worrying about him.
(b) That the bones of the marlin will fall off.
(c) That the boy won't be there to help him.
(d) That he has been headed the wrong way.

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. How is he able to clean the dolphin?
(a) By using his right hand and holding it steady with his foot.
(b) By leaving its skin on and only removing its entrails.
(c) By tying the line to the marlin on the thale.
(d) By using his left hand and right foot.

4. What disappointment does the old man feel because he has been out in his boat for days?
(a) He cannot remember what the boy looks like.
(b) He has not been able to go to the cock fights.
(c) He does not know the baseball game scores.
(d) He has not had a beer in two days.

5. What is Santiago's plan as the fist keeps circling?
(a) To let the boat turn around and around as the fish circles.
(b) To let out the line.
(c) To give the fish less and less line.
(d) To jump in to fight the fish.

6. What does the old man think is a greater punishment for the marlin than the hook in his mouth?
(a) Sharks that he cannot escape because of the hook and line.
(b) The indignity of being caught by a man.
(c) The fact that he cannot sleep.
(d) Hunger and fighting something he does no comprehend.

7. What does Santiago believe are in the sea?
(a) Fish bigger than the marlin he caught.
(b) Sharks and seaweed.
(c) Friends and enemies.
(d) Mermaids and shells.

8. Why does Santiago tell the fish not to jump?
(a) For fear that the hook will work itself loose.
(b) For fear that it will flood the boat.
(c) For fear that it will attract sharks.
(d) For fear that the line will have to be let out again.

9. Why do the sharks finally go away?
(a) They cannot see in the dark.
(b) They know the old man is dying.
(c) Their heads hurt from the bat blows.
(d) There is nothing left to eat on the marlin.

10. Why does Santiago decide to re-bait the the small line over the stern of the boat?
(a) He thinks doing that will take him mind off his pains.
(b) He needs to keep busy to get his hand to uncramp.
(c) In case the marlin lasts another night, he will need something to eat.
(d) Anything he catches on the small line will draw the sharks away from the marlin.

11. Why does the boy stop fishing with Santiago?
(a) His parents think Santiago has bad character.
(b) His parents do not want him to go to sea.
(c) His parents force him to go with a lucky boat.
(d) His parents think Santiago's boat is unsafe.

12. What brings the shark towards Santiago's boat?
(a) A school of dolphins following the boat.
(b) A dark cloud of blood from the marlin.
(c) The sound of Santiago talking out loud.
(d) The flying fish jumping along side the boat.

13. When do the sharks return after Santiago loses his makeshift harpoon?
(a) Just after dark.
(b) Immediately after he ran them off the first time.
(c) Just before sunset.
(d) Early the next morning.

14. What funny thing does Santiago say to himself after thinking about what he had not brought with him on this fishing trip?
(a) Imagine all that work just to feed the sharks.
(b) I caught the biggest fish ever but no one will believe it.
(c) If more sharks come and eat the rest of the fish, the boat will go faster.
(d) You give me much good counsel. I'm tired of it.

15. Santiago is far out at sea and the fish is from deep waters. What comparison does Santiago make?
(a) Both of them are old and past their prime.
(b) They are like to gladiators in the arena.
(c) There is no one to help either of them.
(d) They must weigh about the same.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the old man imagine about the marlin if it had been alive?

2. What evidence does the old man have of his long, hard fight with the marlin?

3. Why does Santiago wish the marlin would sleep?

4. Obviously a very large fish that is caught on Santiago's line. What does the fish do all night long?

5. After eating the raw dolphin, what does the old man promise he will do in the future?

(see the answer keys)

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