1. 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?
(a) The boy would talk to him and keep him awake.
(b) The boy would harpoon the marlin as it jumped out of the water.
(c) The boy would have taken over for him and let him go back to sleep.
(d) The boy would have kept the line wet so that they did not cut his hands.

2. What is Santiago's secret for deep sea fishing?
(a) To use no more than one line at a time.
(b) To let the boat drift and put the lines at an angle.
(c) To bring the lines up often so the fish will notice the movement.
(d) To keep the lines straight down.

3. What funny thing does Santiago say to himself after thinking about what he had not brought with him on this fishing trip?
(a) You give me much good counsel. I'm tired of it.
(b) Imagine all that work just to feed the sharks.
(c) If more sharks come and eat the rest of the fish, the boat will go faster.
(d) I caught the biggest fish ever but no one will believe it.

4. What does the fisherman say about the marlin to the boy?
(a) He was eighteen feet from nose to tail.
(b) There is nothing left but head, tail, and bones.
(c) I need a tape to measure this fish.
(d) Why would the old man bring back only bones?

5. What does the old man think about a cramp?
(a) It is better than having to vomit.
(b) It humiliates oneself.
(c) It will make him stop fishing.
(d) It is something that goes away quickly.