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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. When did the Swedish warship, Vasa, sink a mile offshore on her maiden voyage?

2. On the second night, how many hours did they row before resting?

3. How many hours on their second night did Maurice and Maralyn alternate rowing?

4. What was Maralyn doing when Maurice rested after retrieving the last things from the Auralyn?

5. During the trip from the Canaries to the Caribbean, how many times did it rain?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Where did Maurice estimate they are after the Auralyn sank?

3. What did Maurice do after the Auralyn sank?

4. How did Maurice and Maralyn try to use the turtles to pull them across the ocean?

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

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

7. What did Maurice and Maralyn have for food and water after their boat sank, and how did it have to be rationed?

8. What were the problems with rowing?

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

10. What happened on March 4, 1973?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Idioms are words that have a figurative, rather than a literal meaning. How are idioms used in A Marriage at Sea when relating conversations? How do idioms help create word pictures and mental images for readers in a concise manner? How do idioms help readers understand people, emotions, events, or ideas?

Essay Topic 2

Maralyn spent a great deal of time writing in her diary when the couple was adrift. Why was writing so important to her, and how did it become a coping mechanism?

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)

This section contains 839 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample