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 is the charge against the Chinese crewmen who refuse to sail?

2. While on the raft, how do Phillip and Timothy get fish to eat?

3. Who is Grace?

4. Why does the army officer tell Phillip and Henrik to leave the bridge?

5. In Chapter 3, when Timothy and Phillip are on the raft, where does Timothy believe they are?

Short Essay Questions

1. At noon on Phillip's and Timothy's third day on the raft, what does Timothy do for Phillip as a plane passes overhead?

2. As the novel opens, why is young Phillip excited?

3. On the first night Timothy and Phillip are on the raft, what does Phillip think about as he lays looking at the stars?

4. In Chapter 6, what happens that causes Phillip to fall off the raft into the water?

5. Why does Phillip accuse Timothy of being stingy when they are on the raft?

6. At the beginning of the book, what do Phillip and Henrik find when they visit the harbor against their mothers' wishes?

7. Who are the occupants of the raft Phillip wakes up on after the S.S. Hato sinks?

8. What does Timothy say the island he spots looks like?

9. What information does Timothy provide Phillip about himself when Phillip asks where Timothy comes from?

10. What activity do Phillip and Henrik often engage in when they visit the harbor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Friendship is an important theme in The Cay. Who are Phillip's friends? Does he have different friends at different times throughout the book? What needs do Phillips friends meet for him? Do his friendships change during the course of the novel? If so, how? Does his view of friendship change?

Essay Topic 2

How does Phillip change from an innocent to a more worldly character during the course of the novel? What events lead to the change? Does he maintain any of his innocence? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

There are two major settings in The Cay. What are they? How do each of these settings affect the storyline and Phillip? Would another setting, such as a modern-day setting, have been as effective in developing Phillip's character? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 746 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample