View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Maturin lead Herapath to believe?
(a) He is going to let Wogan go free.
(b) He is going to help Wogan with an abortion.
(c) A lot of intelligence was left by an officer who went with Grant.
(d) A lot of intelligence is stored in the ship safe.

2. What does Aubrey do to strengthen the standing rigging?
(a) Coats the sails with wax.
(b) Has hawsers run to the masts.
(c) Uses chains instead of ropes.
(d) Coats the ropes with wax.

3. What does Maturin see medically in the crew?
(a) Signs of bubonic plague.
(b) Signs that gaol fever is returning.
(c) The crew is healthy from all the hard work.
(d) Early signs of scurvy.

4. About what does Babbington warn Grant?
(a) Low rations.
(b) Heading too far east.
(c) Lack of fresh water.
(d) Dangerous nautical conditions.

5. What does Aubrey decide to use as stern chasers?
(a) A long canon eight pounder.
(b) Three fourteen pounders.
(c) Two brass long nine pounders.
(d) A fourteen and eleven pounder brass canons.

Short Answer Questions

1. What changes in the ship's situation when the water pouring in slows down?

2. What ship shows up at the island?

3. How is Desolation Island marked on the charts?

4. What surprises Aubrey when morning arrives?

5. What does Maturin think about Aubrey's wounds?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the crew do after being safely anchored and what repair is impossible and why?

2. La Fayette has a forge but Aubrey cannot in good conscience request a favor--England and America are nearly at war. Likewise, Putnam, La Fayette's master, will not request favors from Aubrey. Do you think it is strange that on an island in the middle of nowhere a ship's captain wouldn't be bound by some rule of hospitality? Why or why not?

3. Why is Leopard in danger in Chapter 8 and how much danger is there?

4. Why does Aubrey decide Cape Town is not a good destination?

5. Discuss a few of the nautical technical information given in this chapter.

6. Why does Aubrey allow Grant and others to leave the ship?

7. What does the superstitious crew say about Larkin and about the Dutch ship?

8. Meanwhile, Maturin has subtly informed Herapath--an American, it will be remembered--that should he gain the deck of La Fayette he would be free to leave with her; Aubrey would not risk an incident by boarding the American whaler. Do you think Maturin letting Herapath and Wogan escape was an act of treason?

9. What sort of mystical or less than "real" explanation is given as a cause for the ship's survival?

10. La Fayette has a forge but Aubrey cannot in good conscience request a favor--England and America are nearly at war. Explain why Aubrey's decision to not ask for help was irresponsible to his crew and ship.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 924 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample