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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Ishmael say is the saddest thing about any man, no matter how bad he is?
(a) a man who disobeys orders.
(b) a man who has lost his valor.
(c) a man who thinks he knows everything.
(d) a man who kills for sport.

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

3. Which ship does Ishmael select for him and Queequeg to sign on?
(a) the Pequod.
(b) the Titanic.
(c) the Tit-bit.
(d) the Devil-dam.

4. Which boat from the Pequod is the first to harpoon a whale?
(a) Ahab's.
(b) Starbuck's.
(c) Flask's.
(d) Stubb's.

5. 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.

6. What is Starbuck's disagreement with Ahab's purpose for the trip?
(a) the futility of vengeance against a whale.
(b) the need to get oil and return to Nantucket quickly.
(c) the moral correctness of finding the white whale.
(d) the missed opportunities to capture other whales.

7. What is the conversation like at breakfast in the Spouter Inn?
(a) silence.
(b) chatty.
(c) polite.
(d) boisterous.

8. What is the major problem while the whale is tied to the side of the ship?
(a) changing the direction of the ship.
(b) keeping the ropes from breaking.
(c) keeping the sharks away.
(d) balancing the ship.

9. What habit of whales do the whaling ships use to find their prey?
(a) the way they follow certain routes to new feeding areas.
(b) they way they always go to the same place to spawn.
(c) the way they head south in the winter.
(d) the way they spout when finding schools of fish.

10. What is the name of Queequeg's small, carved idol?
(a) Yojo.
(b) Sojo.
(c) Jojo.
(d) Mojo.

11. What is Ishmael's religious affiliation?
(a) Catholic.
(b) Methodist.
(c) Quaker.
(d) Presbyterian.

12. What has Ahab's vengeance done to him?
(a) He cannot sleep at night.
(b) He has lost his appetite.
(c) He finds no pleasure in life.
(d) His hair has turned white.

13. What is the encounter in the ocean that causes Ahab to come to the deck?
(a) they see a huge pod of whales.
(b) they meet another whaling ship.
(c) they hear strange musical sounds in the ocean.
(d) they are chased by pirates.

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

15. What apology does Ishmael make about whalers?
(a) He uses history to honor whalers.
(b) He agrees that whalers are low caste.
(c) He defends their crude manners.
(d) He explains why they are socially low.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is peculiar about the deck where Ahab walks?

2. What startles the crew as they prepare to go after a whale?

3. What do Ishmael and Stubb discuss about captains and whaling?

4. Why does the rumor start that Moby Dick is stalking the Pequod?

5. What is the theme of MOBY DICK?

(see the answer keys)

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