View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What, in Ling's mind, is the riskiest part of the mission in Chapter 59?

2. What does the Koguryo do to the Coast Guard ship?

3. What is the name of the ghost ship that Giordino mentions as they approach the Odyssey?

4. How many pounds of thrust does the rocket on board the Odyssey generate?

5. What is the first sign of an imminent rocket launch off the Sea Launch platform?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what happens after Dirk Sr. and Al spot the Badger tied up to the Odyssey.

2. What do Dirk Pitt, Sr., and Al do after they land at LAX in Chapter 48?

3. Describe the final scene with Dirk and Sarah.

4. How do Dirk Sr. and Al rescue Dirk Jr. and Jack from the Odyssey?

5. What plan do NUMA and homeland security officials put into action in Chapter 43?

6. What ultimately happens to the Koguryo and to Lee?

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

8. What information do Dirk and Summer share with the authorities in Chapter 41?

9. Describe Dirk Jr.'s feelings as he watches the launch from the Odyssey in Chapter 59.

10. How does Dirk Sr. try to foil the launch of the rocket from the Odyssey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Evaluate Cussler as a storyteller. How effective is he at winding out a yarn? Can you evaluate his storytelling ability apart from his writing style, the believability of his characters, and the plausibility of the plot? If he were to ask your counsel, i.e. "How can I improve my storytelling?", what would you tell him? Consider his writing style. How would you define it? What about the elements of pacing? His ability to keep the reader engaged? To move readers to complete "just one more chapter?" Identify specific elements from the book that support your answers.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 919 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample