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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which crew member does Ishmael single out as having the most responsibility?
(a) the captain.
(b) the harpooner.
(c) the first mate.
(d) the oarsman.

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

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

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

5. Why does Ishmael advise against putting intellectual men on watch?
(a) they become easily bored.
(b) they analyze too much.
(c) they become engrossed in their own thoughts.
(d) they ask too many questions.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to the two men who turn on Steelkilt and come out of the locked scuttle?

2. What is Ishmael's profession before signing on the whaling ship?

3. What happens to Radney during a whale chase?

4. How does Ishmael describe the possibility of mutiny on a whale ship?

5. Who are Peleg and Bildad?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the behavior of the mates dining in the captain's cabin as they torment the cook who serves their meal.

2. At what point does Ishmael go into a discussion about whales in general.

3. Describe how Ishmael becomes uneasy about Captain Ahab.

4. What potential serious problem does Ahab ignore in order to talk to the captain of another whaling ship?

5. What behavior of whales works to the advantage of whaling ships looking for them?

6. Why is the story of Radney and Steelkilt important to the story?

7. What ominous encounter do Ishmael and Queequeg have after they have signed onto the Pequod?

8. Explain why Ishmael decides to book himself on a whaling ship.

9. How does Ahab express his mission on this trip of the Pequod?

10. How do Starbuck and Stubb react to Ahab's stated mission?

(see the answer keys)

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