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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What strange thing does Ahab do looking at the head of the captured whale?
(a) he watches it all night long.
(b) he curses it.
(c) he drives a harpoon through it.
(d) he speaks to it.

2. What part of the whale is the most valuable to the whalers?
(a) the blubber.
(b) the skin.
(c) the ivory teeth and bones.
(d) the head and tail.

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

4. What story about a whale attack compares to the history of the Titanic?
(a) the ship was believed to be unsinkable.
(b) the ship was sunk on its maiden expedition.
(c) the whale looked like an ice berg.
(d) the ship struck an ice berg while chasing a whale.

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

6. What is Queequeg's amusing story about the ship captain attending a wedding in his father's court?
(a) he tried to kiss the bride.
(b) he used the punch bowl as a finger bowl.
(c) he danced on the table.
(d) he wore a grass skirt.

7. How does Ishmael describe the possibility of mutiny on a whale ship?
(a) he tells the story of Steelkilt and Radney.
(b) he tells the story of the Bounty.
(c) he tells the story of Sinbad and Ali.
(d) he tells the story of the Nautilus.

8. What is the speculation about Ahab's knowledge of the stowaways?
(a) that he knows why they are there.
(b) that he is aware of them.
(c) that he is playing a game with them.
(d) that he will have them thrown overboard.

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

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

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

12. What do the plaques in the whaler's chapel remind Ishmael of?
(a) the heroism of whaling.
(b) the marks of distinction.
(c) the dangers of the sea.
(d) the time away from land.

13. What does Ishmael say whale ship crew members often do with the bones of whales?
(a) make stays for corsets.
(b) make ivory prostheses for men like Ahab.
(c) throw them overboard.
(d) carve animals.

14. What is peculiar about the deck where Ahab walks?
(a) It is covered with sharkskin.
(b) It has many dents made by Ahab's prosthesis.
(c) It is slanted and easy to lose footing.
(d) It is double decked.

15. What does Queequeg use to reach his food?
(a) a long stick.
(b) his long arms.
(c) his harpoon.
(d) a small lasso.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How does Ishmael introduce the story of Moby Dick?

3. How does Queequeg distinguish himself on the trip to Nantucket?

4. What is the subject matter of the sermon in the chapel?

5. Why does Ishmael think Chapter 45 is the most important one in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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