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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the name of the inn where Ishmael stays while waiting to go to Nantucket?
(a) the Spouter Inn.
(b) the Humpback Inn.
(c) the Peter Coffin Inn.
(d) the Whale Bone Inn.

2. What characteristics does Ishmael assign to Starbuck, the chief mate?
(a) elegance and sophistication.
(b) impetuousness and anger.
(c) common sense and intelligence.
(d) ignorance and brashness.

3. What unusual thing does Queequeg do while putting on his boots?
(a) sits on the floor.
(b) turns around three times.
(c) jumps up on top of the bed.
(d) crawls under the bed.

4. How does Ishmael recognize newcomers to whaling on the streets of New Bedford?
(a) They look dazed.
(b) They do not know how to dress.
(c) They have on new Macintoshes.
(d) They are carrying large carpetbags.

5. Who pilots the Pequod out of the Nantucket harbor?
(a) Peleg.
(b) Bildad.
(c) Starbuck.
(d) Ahab.

6. What is the theme of MOBY DICK?
(a) cooperation.
(b) expectations.
(c) revenge.
(d) madness.

7. Who is the second mate on board the Pequod?
(a) Stubb.
(b) Dagoo.
(c) Flask.
(d) Pip.

8. After the whale is captured, what is the next step?
(a) estimating its weight.
(b) cutting off its head and tail.
(c) hauling it back to the ship.
(d) removing its skin.

9. Why does Ishmael think Chapter 45 is the most important one in the book?
(a) because it describes Moby Dick in detail.
(b) because it deals with whale stories.
(c) because it describes behaviors of whales.
(d) because it discusses the pecularities of Ahab.

10. Who is Charity and what is her function regarding the Pequod?
(a) she brings Bibles and religious supplies.
(b) Peleg's wife, she orders the food supplies.
(c) she supervises the storing of the supplies.
(d) Bildad's sister and part owner, she brings supplies.

11. What do the men do for entertainment on board the Pequod?
(a) sing and dance.
(b) gamble.
(c) play cards.
(d) tell sea tales.

12. How does Stubb handle the strange situation?
(a) with his sense of humor.
(b) with a great deal of tension.
(c) by writing in a diary.
(d) by not thinking about it.

13. At the Try Pots Inn in Nantucket, what is the staple menu?
(a) fish and chips.
(b) bacon and eggs.
(c) clam and cod chowder.
(d) ham and gravy.

14. What does Stubb instruct Daggoo to do for him?
(a) take over securing the whale to the ship.
(b) cut a steak from the tail of the whale.
(c) carve his name on the whale's back.
(d) cut out a tooth from the whale.

15. Why does Elijah challenge Ishmael to find the men he saw heading for the Pequod?
(a) they are criminals sabotaging the Pequod.
(b) they will not board with Captain Ahab.
(c) they are ghosts and not real men.
(d) they are figments of Ishmael's imagination.

Short Answer Questions

1. Although the other four strange men blend in with the crew, what does Ishmael observe about Fedallah?

2. What apology does Ishmael make about whalers?

3. To what does Ishmael attribute the hieroglyphic-like markings on the whale skin?

4. How does Ishmael describe the whales he sees in the ocean?

5. What has Ahab's vengeance done to him?

(see the answer keys)

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