View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which food was Twain fed on the schooner during his trip to Hawaii in chapter 18?

2. As Twain wrote in chapter 22, how many corners did the raft that Lono used to depart the islands have?

3. How did the Emeline compare to the previous vessel that Twain had been on?

4. What did Twain and Mr. Brown eventually do in order to secure food while waiting for their schooner in chapter 20?

5. What did Twain do before returning the remains to their resting place in chapter 24?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the schooner, the Boomerang, like and why did Twain have difficulty sleeping on his voyage?

2. Why was the native riding in a canoe after Twain and the Emeline left the shore in chapter 24?

3. What was Twain's view from the deck of the Boomerang in chapter 18, and how was it interrupted?

4. How long did it take the Hornet to burn and what did the crew do as it was burning?

5. What was Mr. Brown trying to steal in chapter 20?

6. How did Twain display his awareness of the responsibility he had as a journalist when he wrote about his voyage on the Boomerang?

7. What fruit surprised Twain in Kona and why?

8. What did the crew of the Hornet do for food and water while sailing on the Pacific after their ship had burned?

9. According to Twain, what was the source of the Hawaiian's use of their ancient customs during the funeral in chapter 16?

10. How was Captain Cook murdered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the tragic story of the Hornet as it was presented in Twain's letter. Include Twain's main source of information, the events that caused the Hornet to catch fire, the obstacles that the crew faced on the Pacific, the integral part that the Captain had in their survival, and how the survivors were ultimately guided to the Hawaiian shore.

Essay Topic 2

Pacific whaling was a serious issue that Twain wrote about in his letters from Hawaii.

1) Describe the benefits of Pacific whaling that Twain included in his letters.

2) Explain why Twain thought that San Francisco should actively pursue whaling on a larger scale.

3) Describe the steps that needed to be taken in Twain's opinion for whaling to be the most effective.

4) Analyze the humorous story that Twain wrote about in order to delay his discussion of Pacific whaling.

Essay Topic 3

Describe in detail the basis for Twain's dislike of Minister Harris, his description of Harris's actions, and his criticism of ministers in general.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 969 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample