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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 Sarah awaken in Chapter 2?

2. Who picks up Dirk and Summer to take them back to America?

3. Who is the veteran engineer who prepares the Odyssey for sea travel?

4. How do Dirk and Summer propose to salvage the bombs from the I-411?

5. What does the bald man in the hotel room do to Catana?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what happens as the Sea Rover is being flooded in Chapter 28 and how the crew is rescued.

2. How do Dirk and Sarah escape the thugs in the Cadillac in Chapter 18?

3. What is the mission of the Japanese Red Army?

4. What does Kang plan to do with the Baekje?

5. Describe the assassin in Chapter 4.

6. What is revealed to have happened in the town of Warrenton in 1942?

7. Why does Tanaka lie to Commander Ogawa in the introduction when Ogawa asks if his crew is in danger in the book's introduction?

8. What happens to Keith Catana in Chapter 11?

9. Describe what happens on board the command boat that is supposed to launch with the Odyssey in Chapter 40.

10. Describe briefly the history of the use of Zyklon B.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few ... or the one," Mr. Spock said. Throughout Black Wind, the heroes are put in situations where personal sacrifice is a possible course of action. Identify several incidents in the book where one or more of the characters took Mr. Spock's admonition to heart. Describe those incidents, the crisis that precipitated the incident, and the characters' response to it. Discuss whether or not sacrifice was actually called for or whether an alternative response would have been just as effective.

Essay Topic 2

Virtually all of Black Wind takes place either above, on the surface of, or under the sea. It is obviously an environment Cussler feels comfortable with. Discuss whether or not the sea itself could be considered a character in the book, whether it is benign or threatening, how the characters relate to it, and if the story be told in some fashion on dry land. Consider, too, if the sea could act as a symbol. If so, what might it be symbolic of?

Essay Topic 3

Dirk Pitt, Jr., is the hub of several relational spokes. Dirk Jr. relates to his father, his sister, his girlfriend, his sidekick, even his enemy. Choose five of Dirk's relationships, and explore them by comparing and contrasting those relationships to each other. Evaluate how Dirk's relationship with each of them shows a different facet of his nature and personality. Explain how persuasive and believable these relationships are.

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