View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What is the man called who stands on deck and holds the rope that secures Queequeg?
(a) the anchor.
(b) the cowboy.
(c) the monkey.
(d) the door post.

3. Which harpooner is chosen by Starbuck?
(a) Queequeg.
(b) Daggoo.
(c) Ishmael.
(d) Tashtego.

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

5. What is Ishmael's profession before signing on the whaling ship?
(a) merchant marine.
(b) bank clerk.
(c) newspaper reporter.
(d) schoolmaster.

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

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

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

9. What do Ishmael and Stubb discuss about captains and whaling?
(a) whether captains should be harpooners.
(b) whether the captain should take the helm.
(c) whether the captain should go on the boats.
(d) whether captains know enough about whales.

10. 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.

11. How does Ishmael foreshadow Starbuck's behavior throughout the novel?
(a) He becomes fearful and mutinous.
(b) He loses all his moral values and tries to kill Ahab.
(c) He remains the valiant and moral person he first appears to be.
(d) He changes into a madman.

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

13. What purpose does the mad Elijah serve in the story?
(a) he prophecies disaster for the Pequod.
(b) he explains how to get on board the Pequod.
(c) he prophecies success for the Pequod.
(d) he adds comic relief to the story.

14. What startles the crew as they prepare to go after a whale?
(a) a hole in the bottom of each whale boat.
(b) whales completely surrounding the ship.
(c) five men they had not seen before.
(d) Captain Ahab without his ivory peg leg.

15. What is Ishmael's objection to artist renditions of the whale?
(a) they are painted out of the water.
(b) they are too realistic.
(c) they are imaginary and not true to life.
(d) they are pictured in false colors.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What is the speculation about Ahab's knowledge of the stowaways?

3. After the whale is captured, what is the next step?

4. What habit of whales do the whaling ships use to find their prey?

5. After the first whaling experience, what does Ishmael decide to do?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 592 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample