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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the boy's reaction when the proprietor of the Terrace compliments his catch the day before?
(a) He says to tell people to go visit the old man.
(b) He says to stop talking or it will bring him bad luck.
(c) He says the proprietor should see what the old man caught.
(d) He says to damn his fish and starts crying again.

2. What effect did his movement and the hot sun during the day have on Santiago?
(a) He felt like a young man again.
(b) There was more bleeding from the cuts on his hands.
(c) His hand uncramped.
(d) His backache went away.

3. What does Santiago plan to do to change his luck?
(a) He gets the priest to bless his boat.
(b) He plans to row far out to fish.
(c) He buys a new sail for his boat.
(d) He takes his lucky charms with him.

4. What does his cramped hand make Santiago think about the boy?
(a) His hand makes a claw that he thinks the boy would find funny.
(b) He thinks how the boy would massage his hand.
(c) He thinks the boy would remember how that had happened before.
(d) He cannot use his hand at all and the boy could take over.

5. What does Santiago think is unjust but something he must do?
(a) Act strange for the boy.
(b) Kill the great fish on the end of his line.
(c) Eat more raw fish to survive.
(d) Cut the marlin loose and go back saying he had another day of bad luck.

6. Why does Santiago think he may have to fight again before he reaches Havana?
(a) The sharks know he cannot see them in the dark.
(b) There is still half of the meat left on the marlin.
(c) He is still having bad luck.
(d) The boy is not there to help him.

7. What does Santiago wish he could show the fish?
(a) His club he would use to kill the fish.
(b) How many fathoms of line he had in the boat.
(c) How his hand was cramped.
(d) What manner of man the fish was up against.

8. Because Santiago always wakes the boy every morning, what does the boy call him?
(a) My morning visitor.
(b) My tormentor.
(c) My big problem.
(d) My alarm clock.

9. As his head becomes unclear again, what does Santiago ask himself?
(a) Is he bringing me in or am I bringing him in?
(b) Why am I not dreaming of lions?
(c) Why didn't I just tow him behind the skiff?
(d) What happened to the marlin's dignity?

10. What assistance for the old man does the boy try to get?
(a) He tries to get a new sail for Santiago's boat.
(b) He tries to get his mother to make food for Santiago.
(c) He tries to get better bait for Santiago.
(d) He tries to get the boat he is now on to go far out near the old man.

11. How thick is the line the old man uses to catch big fish?
(a) Very small but strong.
(b) A big around as his thumb.
(c) About as thick as an oar handle.
(d) As big around as a pencil.

12. What does Santiago believe are in the sea?
(a) Friends and enemies.
(b) Sharks and seaweed.
(c) Fish bigger than the marlin he caught.
(d) Mermaids and shells.

13. What simile does Hemingway use to describe the island of Sargasso seaweed Santiago's boat passes?
(a) A yellow oil slick on the water.
(b) Yellow fish swimming just below the surface.
(c) People making love under a yellow blanket.
(d) Yellow sheets hanging on a line in the sun.

14. Why do the other fishermen think of the sea in the masculine, el mar?
(a) They take shark livers from the sea.
(b) They see it as a generous man.
(c) They see it as a dangerous enemy.
(d) They like to think of themselves being as strong as the sea.

15. By nightfall of the third day, what does Santiago expect to see?
(a) Other fishing boats out at night.
(b) More sharks attacking his boat.
(c) The lights of Havana.
(d) A few stars.

Short Answer Questions

1. When does Santiago finally see the lights of the city?

2. What does Santiago think about giving up hope?

3. What does the old man think about to build up his courage as the sun sets on the second day?

4. Which line below gives an indication of Santiago's respect for nature?

5. What does the marlin do as the sun rises on the third day?

(see the answer keys)

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