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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What reaction do the seals have to the noise and chaos of the workers on Norday?
(a) Crawl up onto the shore and die.
(b) Swim away to another island.
(c) Gather other seals and surround Norday.
(d) Refuse to eat.

2. Where does Thorfinn spend most of the war?
(a) Fighting on the Russian front.
(b) Stalag 29B in Bavaria.
(c) Writing code for the British military.
(d) Hiding in the caves of Norday.

3. How does the laird describe Norday Island to his factor in chapter 5?
(a) "This precious stone set in a silver sea."
(b) "The lark at dawn arising."
(c) "A breath of air past fog."
(d) "Sweet sessions of Syrian thought."

4. Who does Jimmy Greenay save from drowning in chapter 7?
(a) The laird who tries to commit suicide in the ruckus.
(b) The engineer who breaks his ankle in a rockpool.
(c) MacTavish who wanders down to the shore while drinking.
(d) Dr. Lamond who struggles physically with a workman.

5. What boat is being fixed up at the beginning of chapter 8?
(a) Jacob Olafson's Scallop.
(b) Matthew Ragnaron's Seascape.
(c) James MacTavish's Rivals.
(d) Thorfinn Ragnarson's Selkie.

Short Answer Questions

1. What dates are carved on Jacob Olafson's stone?

2. Who is Ragna courting in chapter 6?

3. What three chocolate bars are mentioned in chapter 6's description of the festival celebration?

4. Why type of car does Thomas Vass drive?

5. Why is the present laird so poor?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Major Schneider?

2. Why does the seal girl, Mara, not follow the seal-people into the sea?

3. What does Thorfinn do when he returns to the island after the war?

4. Why are all the doors gone from the island homes when Thorfinn returns to Norday after many years absence?

5. Did the peace treaty between Chamberlain and Hitler stop the work on the Norday Aerodrome?

6. What is a press gang?

7. Why did Sophie come back to Norday Island in the end?

8. Why did the Westvoe farm catch on fire and burn to the ground?

9. What kind of food does Mara the seal wife like to eat?

10. In chapter five one of the previous minister uses the title of the book when referring to fossils. What does he mean?

(see the answer keys)

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