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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Fedallah say about his own death?
(a) he will die on land.
(b) he will die of fright.
(c) he will die of old age.
(d) he will die before Ahab.

2. How did the watch on the mast of The Rachel know that Moby Dick had probably been harpooned.
(a) he saw the boat being pulled away.
(b) he saw the White Whale attack the boat.
(c) he thought he could see it happen.
(d) it happened right near The Rachel.

3. What does Ahab do in an excited state after visiting the Samuel Enderby?
(a) twists and damages his ivory peg leg.
(b) goes to his cabin to sulk.
(c) passes out rum to the crew.
(d) dances a jig on the Pequod.

4. How does Ishmael classify the oiling of the bottom of a boat?
(a) a ceremony performed to attract whales.
(b) a ceremony performed for Neptune.
(c) a ceremony performed for good luck.
(d) a ceremony of initiation of new sailors.

5. What happens on the third day after spotting Moby Dick?
(a) Ahab falls into the ocean but gets back in the boat.
(b) Ahab harpoons the whale.
(c) Ahab misses with his harpoon.
(d) Moby Dick swims to the other side of the Pequod.

6. What does Ahab order the Pequod to do in violation of maritime tradition?
(a) ram the other ship.
(b) play music and dance.
(c) make obscene gestures at the other crew.
(d) sail away before the burial at sea.

7. From what does the Pequod escape at sea?
(a) an ocean whirlpool.
(b) Japanese gun boats.
(c) Malay pirates.
(d) a giant squid.

8. How does Stubb convince the French ship to leave?
(a) by showing them the Pequod's mark on the whale.
(b) by telling them where to find live whales.
(c) by convincing them the dead whale will make them sick.
(d) by letting them smell the rotting flesh of the whale.

9. What had one of the boats from The Rachel accomplished?
(a) they spied Moby Dick.
(b) they escaped Moby Dick.
(c) they harpooned Moby Dick.
(d) they got all around Moby Dick.

10. What happens to Ahab's hat as he perches atop the mast?
(a) a sea hawk steals it.
(b) it becomes misshapen in the mist.
(c) it blows off and falls into the ocean.
(d) he throwns it in the ocean as bait.

11. What does Ahab order the ship's blacksmith to do?
(a) reinforce the sides of the Pequod.
(b) make more lances to use on Moby Dick.
(c) make a cast iron coffin for him if Moby Dick is not found.
(d) forge an iron harpoon only for Moby Dick.

12. What is the second objection the Sag Harbor man has for the veracity of the story of Jonah?
(a) the gastric juices of the whale would have killed Jonah.
(b) the whale would bite and not swallow whole.
(c) the throat of the whale could not swallow a man.
(d) there is no oxygen inside a whale's stomach.

13. What does Queequeg see in the Spanish doubloon?
(a) the price of a bride.
(b) nothing of any value.
(c) a pair of gold earrings.
(d) something to decorate his pipe.

14. Besides the whales in the oceans, what else does Ishmael include in his discussion?
(a) fossil remains of whales from centuries ago.
(b) the comparison of whales to elephants.
(c) the collected myths about whales.
(d) the comparison of whales to dolphins.

15. Given the irony of the coffin turned life buoy, what is the feeling of foreshadowing?
(a) that Ahab will die before Moby Dick is spotted.
(b) that there will be death and only one survivor.
(c) that the White Whale will never be found.
(d) that death is just a part of life.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Ahab react to the intrusion by Starbuck?

2. How does Stubb regain a dead whale from a French whaling boat?

3. What does Ishmael say about why some captured whales float while others tend to sink?

4. What does the captain of a German whaling ship want from the Pequod?

5. What is the carpenter doing when Ahab ascends to deck the next morning?

(see the answer keys)

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