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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Santiago think there are people who are paid to do?
(a) Think about sin.
(b) Build bigger boats than his.
(c) Understand the omens.
(d) Write books about fishing.

2. What does Santiago dream of?
(a) Africa and the lions on the beach.
(b) The fights he had when he was young.
(c) The women he has known in his youth.
(d) Fishing in a new, large boat.

3. What does Santiago suddenly realize he has been doing?
(a) Talking out loud to himself.
(b) Thinking about the boy.
(c) Falling asleep.
(d) Going too fast for his lines.

4. What brings the shark towards Santiago's boat?
(a) A school of dolphins following the boat.
(b) A dark cloud of blood from the marlin.
(c) The sound of Santiago talking out loud.
(d) The flying fish jumping along side the boat.

5. What does the old man conclude defeated him?
(a) The broken knife blade.
(b) His cramped left hand.
(c) Not having the boy with him.
(d) Nothing. He only went too far out.

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) He is still having bad luck.
(c) There is still half of the meat left on the marlin.
(d) The boy is not there to help him.

7. What does the old man think is a greater punishment for the marlin than the hook in his mouth?
(a) The fact that he cannot sleep.
(b) Hunger and fighting something he does no comprehend.
(c) The indignity of being caught by a man.
(d) Sharks that he cannot escape because of the hook and line.

8. When the marlin slows and is steady, Santiago finally gets some sleep. What does he dream of instead of lions?
(a) A flight on a plane.
(b) A vast school of porpoises.
(c) Arm wrestling with the marlin.
(d) Cutting his hand on the fishing line.

9. What vow does the old man make to the fish?
(a) That he will cut him loose if he does not jump out of the water.
(b) That he will die there with the fish.
(c) That he will kill him before the day is over.
(d) That he will let the fish go after he pulls him up to the surface.

10. Speaking out loud, what does Santiago say to the big fish on his line?
(a) Come on up and let me get a good look at you!
(b) I'll stay with you until I'm dead!
(c) Fish, aren't you getting tired yet?
(d) For heaven's sake, turn around and go the other way.

11. What does Santiago like to read in the newspaper?
(a) The racing odds.
(b) The funny pages.
(c) The baseball scores.
(d) The weather forecasts.

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

13. What amazes Santiago as the boy talks about their first fishing trip?
(a) That the boy remembers everything so vividly.
(b) That the boy has forgotten how big the fish was.
(c) That the boy cannot remember one thing about the trip.
(d) That so many years have passed since that time.

14. What does the old man think about to build up his courage as the sun sets on the second day?
(a) He remembers arm wrestling and defeating the Negro from Cienfuegos.
(b) He recalls killing a shark while he was swimming one day.
(c) He remembers surviving after falling overboard.
(d) He thinks about how the boy looks up to him as a great fisherman.

15. How does the old man think he could have made better preparation for eating the raw fish?
(a) Soaking it in sea water before eating it.
(b) Chopping it up into smaller pieces.
(c) Splashing sea water on the bow and letting it dry to get the salt.
(d) Cutting it up as soon as he caught it and letting it sun dry.

Short Answer Questions

1. After many tries to get the marlin alongside the skiff, what does Santiago reach for?

2. What brings Santiago awake suddenly in the night?

3. By nightfall of the third day, what does Santiago expect to see?

4. How old was the boy the first time he went fishing with Santiago?

5. What amusing thing does the old man say to the fish as the fish begins to come nearer the skiff?

(see the answer keys)

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