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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. Where does Callahan want to go in order to get his mail before he flies back to Maine?

2. Unbeknownst to Callahan, __________ has been trying to rescue him, but has been facing an uncooperative Coast Guard.

3. How often does Callahan need to pump air into the the lower tube of the raft since the fix didn't work?

4. Callahan actually begins to feel saddened by the loss of another ____________ when he kills and eats the fish.

5. What is the source of the flash that Callahan sees when he wakes up in the middle of the night on April 20th?

Short Essay Questions

1. What can't Callahan do because of his declining health and hydration, even though he is filled with heartbreak?

2. What is the fix that Callahan uses on the lower tube, helping it to hold air better than the upper tube?

3. What was the warning that Callahan's ex-wife had given him, which Callahan now recalls?

4. Who does Callahan suddenly imagine as his crew when he begins to see that fish is not going to sate him anymore?

5. What is the new source of food that Callahan finds which he has not seen in a while on his journey?

6. What does Callahan decide he needs to banish from his mind if he is to survive in the boat?

7. What is the damage which Callahan notices has occurred on his fishing spear, making it less effective?

8. How does Callahan finally fix the hole that has been ruining the solar still that he tries to use?

9. What does Callahan not have to worry about at night anymore now that the weather has turned warm?

10. What does Callahan miss most about the early days of his new journey on the seas alone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Callahan is faced with sickness, this could have resulted in the end of his life without the proper medical equipment.

Part 1: Why do you think Callahan is able to overcome his illnesses?

Part 2: Do you think another person might not have been able to overcome this illness that Callahan faces?

Part 3: How do you think Callahan could have avoided illness on the boat?

Essay Topic 2

Over time, Callahan begins to refer to the fishes around him as his friends and companions on his journey.

Part 1: Why do you think Callahan begins to see the fish as his friends?

Part 2: How do you think Callahan rationalizes the killing of the fish in order to provide him food?

Part 3: Do you think all humans instinctively seek out companionship? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Many times, fixes which Callahan put into place suddenly do not work in the way that they did at the beginning.

Part 1: Why do you think the fixes aren't able to hold as well as Callahan thought they would?

Part 2: Would you panic if your fixes didn't work the way you expected them to?

Part 3: How do you think you might respond to problems in your boat returning again and again?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 727 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample