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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 does Callahan lay down in order to protect his raft from further damage as he is fishing for food?

2. What does Callahan drape on the top of his boat in order to help it dry out and to keep the canopy area cool?

3. Callahan's family has learned of his rescue through a chain of _____________ contacts.

4. Why is it too difficult to fish at this point of the journey, according to Callahan?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. What happens to the boat as a result of the fish fighting with Callahan during his attempts to catch it?

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

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

10. What happens when the dorado that Callahan tries to catch struggles with him during the process?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Callahan decides that he needs to push doubt out of his mind if he wants to survive.

Part 1: What are the reasons that Callahan should continue to be hopeful on his journey?

Part 2: What are the reasons Callahan has for feeling despair and doubt?

Part 3: What are the benefits of pushing doubt from your mind during difficult situations?

Essay Topic 2

Callahan immediately wonders what supplies he did not take with him when he has to move onto his life raft.

Part 1: Why do you think Callahan didn't have his supplies readily available to him?

Part 2: What else might you have taken for supplies if you were in Callahan's situation?

Part 3: How do you think Callahan did with the supplies that he did take from the boat? Did he do well or not?

Essay Topic 3

Even though he is starving, Callahan points out that he is weary of killing fish to survive.

Part 1: Why do you think Callahan states that he is weary of killing fish around him?

Part 2: How do you think you would feel about killing animals if it were the only way you could get food?

Part 3: Do you think that Callahan is simply tired of working so hard to survive? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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