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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. The people irrationally linked the great white attack to what?

2. Since the incident, experts have determined that swimmers who swim with dogs are at greater risk from shark attack. Why?

3. Who ordered everyone out of the water?

4. What did some think had killed Charles Bruder?

5. The first to reach Charles was who?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the teeth of a shark. Why might they be like this?

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

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

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

5. What took place as soon as Bruger was brought to shore?

6. Why did Charles feel he had reached the shore safely, even though he knew he was being followed? Why might the shark have attacked him anyway?

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

8. How does the story begin? How is this chapter important?

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

10. How did Dr. Vansant try to save his son? Why was this not adequate?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Human-like bones were found in the belly of the shark.

Part 1) Describe the catching of the shark. How did it finally die? Could the shark have been killed if it had been full-grown or healthy? Why or why not? What does this reinforce about the power of sharks?

Part 2) What was found in the belly of the shark? Were the bones definitively found to be human remains? Why or why not? How might an investigation such as this have been different today? Why?

Part 3) Was there adequate proof that this was the shark that attacked and killed so many people? Why or why not? Do you believe the same shark attacked and/or killed all these people? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?"

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,398 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample