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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What is the meaning of salao?
(a) Extreme bad luck.
(b) The champion.
(c) A small room.
(d) A greeting.

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

4. What simile does Hemingway use to describe the island of Sargasso seaweed Santiago's boat passes?
(a) Yellow fish swimming just below the surface.
(b) A yellow oil slick on the water.
(c) People making love under a yellow blanket.
(d) Yellow sheets hanging on a line in the sun.

5. What does Santiago have besides his strength?
(a) The very best equipment.
(b) An unsinkable boat.
(c) Knowledge of many tricks and resolutions.
(d) The mind of a fish.

6. How do you know Santiago had never been up in a plane?
(a) He says out loud that he would never get on one of those things.
(b) He hardly glances at the plane as it goes over.
(c) He thinks planes are the same size as flying fish.
(d) He wonders what the sea looks like from that height.

7. Why does the old man wish to take Joe DiMaggio fishing?
(a) He heard that DiMaggio's father was a fisherman.
(b) He would like to talk about baseball while he fished.
(c) He thinks DiMaggio would be good at clubbing sharks to death.
(d) He wants to get free tickets to a Yankee game.

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

9. What word does Santiago utter that Hemingway says there is no translation for?
(a) Brisa
(b) Ay
(c) Galanos
(d) Mala

10. What does the old man call the business of getting the marlin lashed to the skiff?
(a) Slave work.
(b) Easy work.
(c) Boy Scout work.
(d) Dugout work.

11. What had become a habit for the boy during the old man's absence?
(a) Saving newspapers for Santiago to read.
(b) Stopping by Santiago's shack every morning.
(c) Waking up late so he did not have to go fishing.
(d) Arguing with the fishermen who made fun of Santiago.

12. Speaking out loud, what does Santiago say to the big fish on his line?
(a) Fish, aren't you getting tired yet?
(b) Come on up and let me get a good look at you!
(c) For heaven's sake, turn around and go the other way.
(d) I'll stay with you until I'm dead!

13. Santiago recalls catching marlin that weighed over a thousand pounds. Why is this time different?
(a) Before he always had someone to help him.
(b) This time the fish shows no signs of tiring.
(c) This time he has only a small casting net with him.
(d) Before he was in a much larger boat.

14. How old was the boy the first time he went fishing with Santiago?
(a) 15 years old.
(b) 7 years old.
(c) 5 years old.
(d) 10 years old.

15. What does the old man think he killed the fish for besides food and to keep himself alive?
(a) Pride of being a fisherman.
(b) The lust for killing.
(c) Throwing a big party for his friends.
(d) Revenge for all the fish he had lost.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What does the old man think is a greater punishment for the marlin than the hook in his mouth?

3. What does Santiago look for as he sails toward the land?

4. What vow does the old man make to the fish?

5. What is a favorite topic of conversation for Santiago and the boy?

(see the answer keys)

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