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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. As Twain explained the story in chapter 21, where was Charlton a British consul in Hawaii?

2. What were the women that Twain saw by the temple wearing in chapter 21?

3. How were the provisions divided amongst the crew after the Hornet was burned?

4. Based on the updated information Twain provides in chapter 15, how many survivors were there of the burned clipper ship, the Hornet?

5. Who did Twain blame for the Hawaiians' lingering ancient customs of a barbarous age?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which story was told about General Van Valkenburgh in the postscript of chapter 17?

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

3. Which parts of the princess's ceremony were not appreciated by Twain?

4. Who did Twain interview about the tragic circumstances of the Hornet, how long was the crew lost at sea, and how many survivors were there?

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

6. How did Twain describe the mausoleum he visited in chapter 17?

7. What was it about Hawaii's sugar production that impressed Twain in chapter 23?

8. Where did Twain watch the ceremony for Princess Victoria in chapter 16, and how did the natives prepare for it?

9. How was Captain Mitchell instrumental in keeping his crew alive?

10. How was Captain Cook's monument described by Twain in chapter 20?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the letters, Twain offered his opinions about Hawaii on many different levels.

1) Describe what Twain thought of the Hotel American that he stayed at and why.

2) Explain which fruits positively surprised Twain in Hawaii and why, as well as the fruits that he did not enjoy as much.

3) Describe the scenery for three places that Twain observed on the islands.

4) Analyze Twain's opinions about the Hawaiian cigars and liquor, and his advice to Americans for both.

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

Mr. Brown was Twain's traveling companion during his trip to Hawaii and gave him a chance to express more than one view about topics in his letters.

1) Describe Mr. Brown's personality and the main differences between his characteristics and Twain's characteristics.

2) Explain three examples of how Mr. Brown and Twain disagreed about a particular topic.

3) Analyze whether or not you think that Mr. Brown was a fictional character and how he allowed Twain to distance himself from the text in certain cases.

(see the answer keys)

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