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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. Callahan realizes that his ___________ is fragile at his point of the trip but he banishes the doubt from his mind.

2. From what besides the radar reflector does Callahan take the remnants in order to help make a crude rain collector?

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

4. What is the name of the man who offers to let Callahan stay in his hotel while he rests and decides what to do next?

5. Who corrects the issue with the Napoleon Solo's mistaken label which allows the search to continue?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What happens to the raft as the winds begin to pick up around the raft as Callahan tries to navigate?

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

4. How had the fishermen come to find Callahan's boat in the water?

5. What does Callahan attempt to do in order to keep himself hydrated as he continues to vomit?

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

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

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

9. How does Callahan attempt to plot his likely course as he begins to recover from his illness?

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

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?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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