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

2. What does Callahan come across as he is sailing around on April 6th on the ocean?

3. Callahan answers a number of questions of the __________ consul before finally getting some rest in the hospital.

4. What isn't tight enough to keep the boat from losing air after the damage was done by the fish?

5. What decides to loiter around the boat, causing Callahan to have troubles sleeping one night while he is already thirst and depressed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the three parts in which Callahan decides his mind has been split into as a result of this trip on the sea?

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

3. What does Callahan decide he wants to eat when he is in the hospital, refusing other types of nourishment?

4. What does Callahan finally realize about the way a man's life is measured in terms of its worth to others?

5. What does Callahan do to celebrate the sight of land in the distance?

6. What is the main problem Callahan's family is having with the Coast Guard in an effort to rescue him from the ocean?

7. How does Callahan try to lure other fish to his boat in order to catch more food for his stockpile?

8. What does Callahan do to protect himself from a harsh landing on the rocky shore?

9. What is becoming harder for Callahan to complete after he has fixed the breach in the boat?

10. What does Callahan do when he realizes that he may be about two weeks from land?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Coast Guard doesn't seem all that interested in helping the Callahan find their lost family member.

Part 1: Why do you think the Coast Guard isn't as helpful as they could have been?

Part 2: How do you think the Coast Guard could have helped out more?

Part 3: Do you think the story might have been a little biased in the way it portrayed the Coast Guard? Is this possible?

Essay Topic 2

The storms that batter the seas around Callahan from the beginning do not deter him from his goals.

Part 1: Why do you think that storms were not a concern for Callahan?

Part 2: How do you think you would have handled the presence of storms if you were on the boat?

Part 3: Do you think there is ever a time when the seas are completely calm?

Essay Topic 3

Callahan is an experienced sailor and so it seems that he is able to know what he needs to do in order to survive.

Part 1: Do you think society as a whole knows what they would need to do in Callahan's situation?

Part 2: Do you think Callahan's experience increased his rate of survival?

Part 3: How do you think a non-experienced sailor might react in this sort of survival situation?

(see the answer keys)

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