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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Detailed Summary & Analysis.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens when the shovel-nose shark comes and Santiago stabs it in the brain with his makeshift harpoon?
(a) The knife comes untied from the oar.
(b) The knife blade snaps off.
(c) At that moment the wind dies down.
(d) The shark almost pulls the old man overboard.

2. What does Santiago mean when he says that he must think because that is all he has left?
(a) He can only survive by using the intelligence he has that sharks do not have.
(b) Thinking will keep him from feeling lonely without the boy there to help him.
(c) His thinking will help keep him awake after losing so much sleep.
(d) As long as he keeps on thinking, he knows he is still alive.

3. What does the old man fear since the shark had taken about forty pounds of flesh off the marlin?
(a) That he would not win a prize for catching the largest marlin.
(b) That people would think he had eaten part of his catch.
(c) That fishermen would say he found the marlin dead and floating in the water.
(d) That there would soon be other sharks.

4. After Santiago goes back to sleep, what is he dreaming of?
(a) Catching a larger fish.
(b) Sharks.
(c) Broken knives.
(d) Lions.

5. Why is the old man pleased that the marlin had jumped a dozen times?
(a) He thinks the fish is about to die.
(b) He was getting a good look at his fish.
(c) The fish had filled its air sacs and could not dive deep again.
(d) When the fish jumps the boat stands still.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Santiago drink his morning coffee slowly?

2. How many rows of teeth does the Mako shark have?

3. What funny thing does Santiago say to himself after thinking about what he had not brought with him on this fishing trip?

4. Santiago is pinned down and the line is rushing out around his back and through his hand, cutting them. What makes him think about the boy?

5. What does Hemingway mean when he says that the old man harpooned the shark with resolution and complete malignancy?

(see the answer key)

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