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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. What is the equivalent of the amount of food that each man is given in order to ration it for the trip?

2. When does the Essex sail towards the Galapagos Islands in Chapter 4?

3. Before his first whale kill, how many large mammals did Nickerson kill on Nantucket?

4. What causes Chase's boat to get a hole in it as they approach another whale on November 20?

5. How long is the huge whale that appears off the port bow in Chapter 5?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Essex described in Chapter 1?

2. What is unusual about the sperm whale that surfaces unexpectedly in Chapter 5?

3. What are some of the facts that Philbrick discloses about the sinking of the Essex in the Preface?

4. What happens when the Essex tries to leave Nantucket?

5. How are the three whale boats divided and stocked for the trip at the end of Chapter 6?

6. What is the main concern of the boats during the first few days after the sinking of the Essex?

7. As explained in Chapter 2, what route does a Nantucket whale ship normally take?

8. What well known island is part of the Society Islands and why should the crew have been aware of it?

9. How do two whales escape from Chase's boat in the beginning of Chapter 5?

10. What are the first difficulties that the Essex experiences at the end of Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the first two encounters with a whale that the crew of the Essex has, including a detailed description of the Nantucket sleigh ride. Also, provide an explanation of why this is a significant point in the story and what it indicates for the different members of the crew.

Essay Topic 2

Captain Pollard's decision making abilities is the subject of Philbrick's criticism in the book.

1) Describe in detail three decisions that Pollard makes during the Essex's whaling trip as well as after it sinks and how those decisions are influenced.

2) Explain the role that Pollard's decisions have in the outcome of the trip and the survival of the crew.

3) Analyze Philbrick's position on Pollard's ability to make decisions and overrule his crew.

4) Compare the way Pollard handles a complaint from the crew with the other situations he must deal with.

Essay Topic 3

In the Preface, a general background of whaling is provided by Philbrick.

1) Describe the purpose of the Preface and the literary reasons for the information it includes.

2) Explain why sailors from Nantucket hunted whales and how the whales are typically killed.

3) Analyze the sperm whales as they are presented in the Preface along with why they are specifically targeted by whalers.

(see the answer keys)

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