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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. Has the force of the great white's bite ever been measured?

2. Since it was unusual for the young white shark to be close to the shore in July 1916, experts later theorized that the lone predator was led toward shore by ________________.

3. The beach-goers of that year made up the largest gathering in the ____________ to date.

4. As the young shark develops, his hunger turns him toward prey such as _______________.

5. Dr. Nichols, after viewing Bruder's wounds, concluded what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the great white still remain much of a mystery today?

2. What information is given about a specific shark? Why is this information important?

3. What happens by the time a shark is eight years old? How is this significant?

4. Describe the 1891 experiment. Is this a valid experiment? Why or why not?

5. Why did Charles Bruder decide to go for a swim?

6. What happened to Gertrude Schuyler? Why did this happen?

7. What was done for Bruder? Was this adequate? What there anything else that could have been done for him? Why or why not?

8. How is the behavior of a young shark different from an older shark? What might this say about the shark that attacked in 1916?

9. What might have drawn this particular shark north?

10. What were the beliefs of many who heard the news of Bruder's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This book begins with Charles Vansant swimming in the ocean.

Part 1) What feelings does this chapter evoke in the reader? How are these feelings continued throughout the book? What is the purpose of these feelings? How might these feelings influence the reader regarding his or her view of Great Whites?

Part 2) Why does the author choose to tell Charles' story in several chapters, separated by other chapters about sharks? What is the purpose of mixing stories of shark attacks with objective information about the life of a shark?

Part 3) How does the author seem to feel about sharks? Why might he feel this way? Use the book to support your response. How do you feel about sharks after reading this book? Why do you feel this way?

Essay Topic 2

Most of the attacks described in this book ended in death.

Part 1) Describe these attacks. When did they occur? Where did they occur? Why did they occur? What happened to those who were attacked? Why did the shark attack them in this way?

Part 2) Are shark attacks as deadly today as they were in 1916? Why or why not? Is there anything one can do if he or she is attacked by a shark? If so, what? If not, why not?

Part 3) Is swimming worth the risk of a shark attack? Why or why not? How have the descriptions of these attacks affected your opinion of sharks and swimming in the ocean?

Essay Topic 3

Very few of the shark attack victims were saved.

Part 1) Describe the attacks. Why were they so vicious? What did these attacks all have in common? How were the attacks that were fatal different from those that were not fatal?

Part 2) Why were so many of these attacks fatal? What did this reveal about the shark? What other factors, other than the shark's powerful bite, made the attack more dangerous?

Part 3) Could more of the victims be saved today? Why or why not? What does this say about the power of a shark bite? In what ways might swimmers be safer today from sharks than they were in the past?

(see the answer keys)

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