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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Steelkilt threaten to do if he is flogged by the captain?
(a) Tell the admiralty board of review.
(b) Murder the captain.
(c) Jump overboard.
(d) Seek an unnamed revenge.

2. What did the American ship, the Essex, see in the Encantadas?
(a) An enchanted ship.
(b) A ghost ship.
(c) An English ship.
(d) A pirate ship.

3. What did the failure of his invention do for the uncle in "The Happy Failure?"
(a) Made him furious.
(b) Made him a good man.
(c) Made him disappointed.
(d) Made him more determined.

4. What does the narrator of "Cock-a-Doodle-Doo?" believe the rooster's crow is saying?
(a) Beware!
(b) Glory be to God in the highest!
(c) Hello!
(d) Hark!

5. How does the narrator accommodate the weakness of his oldest scrivener?
(a) By hiring an assistant for him.
(b) By giving him unimportant papers in the afternoon.
(c) By allowing him to work only half a day.
(d) By giving him unimportant papers in the morning.

6. Whose job is it to normally sweep the deck of a ship?
(a) The lowest seaman.
(b) The men on watch.
(c) All members of the work gangs.
(d) The boys on board.

7. What has the uncle in "The Happy Failure" invented?
(a) A device for building dams.
(b) A device for draining swamps.
(c) A device for diverting rivers.
(d) A device for purifying water.

8. What is unusual about the pork at the Coulters' dinner table?
(a) It is not really pork.
(b) It is only fat and gristle.
(c) It is last year's.
(d) It is only hides.

9. What benefit does the narrator get from his indulgence of Bartleby's eccentricities?
(a) Self-approval.
(b) The approval of his employees.
(c) Bartleby's friendship.
(d) The approval of his peers.

10. Why does Coulter come home for lunch?
(a) To get exercise from the walk.
(b) To enjoy a hot meal.
(c) To please his wife.
(d) To rest a little while.

11. How does Steelkilt respond to Radney's request that he sweep the deck?
(a) He quietly refuses.
(b) He complains loudly.
(c) He loudly refuses.
(d) He meekly obeys.

12. What does Melville call the government the Creole soldier established on St. Charles?
(a) A theocracy.
(b) A monarchy.
(c) A democracy.
(d) A riotocracy.

13. What do Steelkilt's three remaining conspirators decide to do to save themselves?
(a) Kill Steelkilt.
(b) Support Steelkilt's mutiny.
(c) Bind Steelkilt and give him to the captain.
(d) Sneak back to their posts.

14. What does Blandmour believe God does for the poor?
(a) God charges the rich to care for the poor.
(b) God gives the poor the challenges they need.
(c) God gives the poor everything they need for free.
(d) God gives the poor very little help.

15. What human assumption does Melville say is the most preposterous?
(a) Understanding of the poor by the rich.
(b) Criticism of the poor by the rich.
(c) Understanding of the rich by the poor.
(d) Criticism of the rich by the poor.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what sight in the city does Melville compare the islands of the Encantadas?

2. What surprises the narrator when he goes to his office on a Sunday?

3. What action does Steelkilt determine to take after being locked in the hold?

4. Who takes possession as the sole ruler of St. Charles Isle?

5. What does Melville believe the charities of London do for the poor?

(see the answer keys)

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