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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 foreshadows what is likely to happen to Ahab and Fedallah?
(a) a dream Ahab has while waiting out the night.
(b) a story Ahab remembers about Moby Dick.
(c) a story Fedallah tells while on Ahab's boat.
(d) a dream Fedallah has while on Ahab's boat.

2. What is the ship's carpenter assigned to do?
(a) build a chair for Ahab on deck.
(b) repair all the boats to encounter Moby Dick.
(c) erect a tent so Ahab can stay on deck.
(d) carve a new ivory peg leg for Ahab.

3. What does Ishmael say about why some captured whales float while others tend to sink?
(a) the reason has to do with size.
(b) some whales have more solid bones.
(c) the reason is unknown.
(d) some whales take in more air.

4. Why is the captain of The Rachel appealing for help from the Pequod?
(a) he wants two ships to surround Moby Dick.
(b) one of his crewmen has fallen overboard near Moby Dick.
(c) his 12-year-old son is on the boat hauled away by Moby Dick.
(d) his ship is taking on water from Moby Dick's damage.

5. Why does Pip join on one of the whaling boats?
(a) because one of the crew is injured.
(b) because he was sleeping in the boat.
(c) because he angered Captain ahab.
(d) because he begs to go along.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ahab discover the next morning after the storm?

2. What makes Starbuck come and talk to Ahab.

3. From what does the Pequod escape at sea?

4. What occurs on the Pequod that sends Starbuck to see the captain?

5. How did the watch on the mast of The Rachel know that Moby Dick had probably been harpooned.

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why the Pequod sails in the wrong direction.

2. Why does Ahab transfer onto the Samuel Enderby to hear its captain's story?

3. After killing the sperm whale, why does Ahab want them to capture and kill the less valuable Right Whale?

4. Why does the encounter with the Bachelor irritate Ahab?

5. What contest occurs between the Pequod and a German whaling ship?

6. How is Ahab killed?

7. What happens to Fedallah when Moby Dick is harpooned for the first time?

8. What is occupying the mind of the captain of the Rachel?

9. What ironic thought does Ahab have while looking at Queequeg's coffin?

10. What is the secret that Ishmael lets slip about why Ahab stayed in his cabin so long at the beginning of the trip?

(see the answer keys)

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