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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. On board were the architect Stanford White, New York Sun publisher Charles Dana, and close friend ___________________.

2. Who ordered everyone out of the water?

3. A shark can smell prey ___________________ away.

4. What did some think had killed Charles Bruder?

5. What were women doing that was scandalous to many?

Short Essay Questions

1. Had any new evidence come in regarding the dangers of sharks by the time Oelrichs died? Why or why not?

2. Describe a young great white shark regarding its size and speed in the water. What might this mean for a human swimming in the water?

3. What might have drawn the shark to Charles Vansant?

4. What might have drawn the shark to the shore? How is this a plausible explanation?

5. What might have drawn this particular shark north?

6. When word spread about the attack on Charles Vansant, what did many hotel guests think?

7. What was the official report after Charles Bruder's death? What was done as this report was being filed?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

George Burgess believed the shark that attacked the Jersey Shore in 1916 was a rogue shark.

Part 1) What is a rogue shark? How did Burgess come to this conclusion about certain sharks and specifically this one? Do you believe he is accurate in describing this shark as a rogue shark? Why or why not?

Part 2) Does the author seem to believe this shark is a rogue shark? Why or why not? Do you believe rogue sharks exist? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you believe other animals, including humans, can be rogue creatures? Why or why not? How much more dangerous would these types of creatures be than those who were not classified as "rogue?"

Essay Topic 2

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 3

A myth regarding a shark's power to kill is frequently supported throughout this book.

Part 1) What is this myth? How might it have begun? How was it supported by experts, as described in this book? How else was this myth perpetuated?

Part 2) How did the general public, as well as the victims of these attacks, suffer from this myth? Even after several of these attacks, why did many continue to believe this myth?

Part 3) How might the events in this story have been different if few people still believed in this myth? Do many believe this myth today? Why or why not? How might this affect the frequency of shark attacks and the education of those who swim in shark-infested waters?

(see the answer keys)

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