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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. How many fishhooks did Maurice and Maralyn have?

2. How much time had they had from the time the whale struck until the Auralyn started to sink?

3. If they were strict rationing, how long did Maralyn think their food would last?

4. Eating what part of the fish they caught made Maurice and Maralyn thirsty?

5. In what suburb did Maralyn and Maurice buy their first home?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Maurice considered asking Maralyn to marry him, what things was he not willing to give up or tolerate?

2. How did Maralyn make fishhooks after she discovered theirs were missing?

3. How long did it take to travel from the Canary Island to the Caribbean, and what was the trip like?

4. How was the boat damaged?

5. What damaged the boat on March 4, 1973?

6. How did Maurice and Maralyn decide to live on a boat?

7. What was Maurice and Maralyn's wedding like?

8. What did Maurice think their chances of surviving were, and what did he tell Maralyn?

9. What was Maurice's life like before he met Maralyn?

10. What navigational tools did Maurice have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As the captain, Maurice felt he was responsible for the sinking of the Auralyn. Why did Maurice feel he was responsible?

Essay Topic 2

Mood is an element that evokes feelings in readers through the use of descriptive language. Mood is the overall feeling that readers have when reading a narrative. What is the overall mood of A Marriage at Sea?

Essay Topic 3

People who are very different from one another are often attracted to each other. They complement and balance each other. How and why were Maurice and Maralyn attracted to one another, and what is conveyed about the idea that opposites attract in relationships?

(see the answer keys)

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