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

2. How does Ishmael ultimately describe the whale?
(a) a spouting fish with a horizontal tail.
(b) a lumbering fish with a verticle tail.
(c) an elephant of the ocean.
(d) an elongated fish with big eyes.

3. Who is the High Chief or king of the island of Kokovoko?
(a) Queequeg's brother.
(b) Queequeg's father.
(c) Quequeg's uncle.
(d) Queequeg.

4. What insane crew member of the Jeroboam claims to be the Angel Gabriel?
(a) a prophet of the Neskyeuna Shakers.
(b) another man named Starbuck.
(c) a defrocked priest.
(d) a savage from the islands.

5. 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 wore a grass skirt.
(c) he used the punch bowl as a finger bowl.
(d) he danced on the table.

Short Answer Questions

1. What part of the whale is the most valuable to the whalers?

2. What is the man called who stands on deck and holds the rope that secures Queequeg?

3. Who are Peleg and Bildad?

4. What is the speculation about the noise coming from the after hold?

5. What does Queequeg use to reach his food?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the startling thing that Ishmael learns about his friend, Queequeg.

2. Describe the curious rumor about other fish and Moby Dick.

3. How does Ishmael inform the reader about the process of whale hunting?

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

5. Explain the function of the "monkey" on board a whaling ship.

6. Detail the problems of holding a whale overnight tied to the side of the ship.

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

8. Why does Ishmael soon lose his astonishment over Queequeg in New Bedford?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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