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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 happening to the man Thomas sees on the highway in Chapter III?

2. What does Roger talk about with the man he stays with on the night of Queen Mary's birthday?

3. Who rides in the dinghy near the reef?

4. What is the name of the island Thomas lives on at the beginning of the book?

5. How long has Thomas lived on the island at the beginning of the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Roger's brother dies?

2. How does Roger feel about beating the rich yachtsman?

3. Why has Thomas chosen to live alone?

4. What does Tom talk about as they head out for deep sea fishing?

5. What does Thomas realize after the shark incident?

6. How does Thomas feel about driftwood at the beginning of the book?

7. What characteristics do each of Thomas' sons have?

8. What happens to Uncle Edward at the beginning of Chapter III?

9. What does Thomas plan to do when his boys leave the island?

10. Who helps David with his swordfish, and what advice is he given?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Responsibility and coming-of-age were two themes that were interwoven in many places of this plot. Where do these themes appear, and how do they work together to move the plot along?

Essay Topic 2

Divorce was such a tangible theme in this book that it was almost another character. How does divorce affect the characters in this book, and what are some of the best examples in the text of these affects?

Essay Topic 3

Thomas and Roger were two characters who were very similar in their natures, but were markedly different in other ways. Use some examples from the text to compare and contrast these two dynamic characters.

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