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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is in Pollard's boat towards the end of Chapter 11?
(a) Coffin and Ramsdell, but not Ray.
(b) Coffin and Ray, but not Ramsdell.
(c) Ray and Ramsdell, but not Coffin.
(d) Coffin, Ramsdell, and Ray.

2. According to the Epilogue, what year is it when a sperm whale washes up on the beaches of Nantucket?
(a) 1897.
(b) 1997.
(c) 1979.
(d) 1879.

3. How long is it after avoiding the Society Islands in fear of cannibalism that the crew resorts to it for survival?
(a) Two weeks.
(b) Two months.
(c) Three months.
(d) Three weeks.

4. Which one of the following is not included in the museum's exhibit of the Essex?
(a) Signatures.
(b) A list of the crew.
(c) Twine.
(d) The ship's truck.

5. Which ship's captain makes arrangements to rescue the remaining Essex members on Henderson Island?
(a) Constellation.
(b) Hero.
(c) Dauphin.
(d) Two Brothers.

6. Why is it difficult for the Surry to land on Henderson Island during the rescue of the men?
(a) The rain is too heavy.
(b) The wind is too strong.
(c) The boat is too damaged.
(d) The coral is too dangerous.

7. At what Peruvian Port does Pollard meet Charles Wilkes?
(a) Bayovar.
(b) Payta.
(c) Talara.
(d) Callao.

8. What happens to Chase before he dies?
(a) He cannot remember the Essex.
(b) He reconnects with Pollard.
(c) He moves from Nantucket.
(d) He is declared insane.

9. In which region of Chile are Chase, Nickerson, and Lawrence on February 25?
(a) Valparaiso.
(b) Tarapaca.
(c) Los Rios.
(d) Santiago.

10. What type of exhibit is given to the Essex at the museum referenced in the Epilogue?
(a) Vague.
(b) Big.
(c) Detailed.
(d) Small.

11. How much oil does Chase return with in 1836 on the Charles Carroll?
(a) Two thousand six hundred and ten barrels.
(b) Three thousand six hundred and ten barrels.
(c) Two thousand six hundred and ten gallons.
(d) Three thousand six hundred and ten gallons.

12. How much money does each member of the Constellation give to the recovery of Chase, Nickerson, and Lawrence?
(a) Two dollars and fifty cents.
(b) Two dollars.
(c) One dollar and fifty cents.
(d) One dollar.

13. What has Pollard's Nantucket house become in modern times?
(a) A gift shop.
(b) A museum.
(c) A library.
(d) A parking lot.

14. Where do the men sleep during their first night on the island in Chapter 9?
(a) In their boats.
(b) In the forest.
(c) On the beach.
(d) On rocks.

15. How long after the sinking of the Essex is Chase's account of the ordeal available as a book?
(a) Less than six months.
(b) Almost exactly two years.
(c) Less than a year.
(d) Almost exactly a year.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has the boarding house that Nickerson owned become in modern times?

2. What is the first concern that the men have about the island they find?

3. What do the men use in Chapter 10 to figure out their longitude?

4. How common was cannibalism among sailors that are shipwrecked during the time the book takes place?

5. Why does Joy request to be transferred to the captain's boat when he is close to dying?

(see the answer keys)

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