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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 Pitt do with one of Al's cigars as the Icarus hovers over Tongju's getaway craft?

2. According to an engineer speaking to Ling, what is the angle of deviation on board the Odyssey prior to launch?

3. What is the issue with the Ukrainian launch engineers prior to the launch from the Koguryo?

4. Who is Dirk Pitt, Sr.'s wife?

5. Who is the lieutenant on board the Coast Guard ship investigating the Odyssey?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the end of Tongju.

2. Describe Ling's function on board the Koguryo.

3. What does Tongju do with Dirk and Jack after their capture on the Odyssey, and what does he tell them?

4. Describe Dirk's role with the SEAL team in Chapter 64.

5. What is the role of the USS Benfold in Chapter 63?

6. What happens to the Badger upon the launch of the rocket from the Odyssey?

7. What do Tongju and some of his closest soldiers plan to do after the failure of the rocket launch from the Odyssey?

8. What is Tongju's plan to take over the Odyssey?

9. Describe the final scene with Dirk and Sarah.

10. What does a launch engineer tell Ling in Chapter 58, and what is Ling and Tongju's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dialogue can often propel a story forward. Cussler's heroes tend to make broad, inspirational statements and have plenty of quips at the ready. His villains tend to do everything but twirl their mustaches - note the times when the villains speak, they "hiss" or their words are "spat out." Looking through the novel, pick out ten quotes from the protagonists (the two Dirks, Summer, Al, Jack, etc.) and ten quotes from the antagonists (Kang, Tongju, etc.) Try to come up with a mix of quotes that sound pitch-perfect and persuasive, and quotes that are "groaners," better suited as balloons in a cartoon panel. For each quote, evaluate why it does or doesn't work, and discuss whether or not Cussler's use of dialogue is appropriate for the book's context or not.

Essay Topic 2

Black Wind is full of novel gadgets, watercraft, aircraft, and other technological gizmos. Discuss how effective Cussler is in integrating technology into his novel, how much technology contributes to the overall plot, whether or not he gets bogged down in minutiae, and whether or not the reader feels that he/she needs a degree from M.I.T. to follow what is happening.

Essay Topic 3

The theme of destruction for personal gain runs throughout the novel. Looking at the book as a whole, discuss how substantive this theme is, evaluating whether or not it is compelling enough to support the weight of the whole book. Identify several incidences in the plot that support this theme and evaluate how effective those incidents are in holding the story together.

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