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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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) Fish, aren't you getting tired yet?
(c) I'll stay with you until I'm dead!
(d) For heaven's sake, turn around and go the other way.

2. When does Santiago realize the depth of his tiredness?
(a) As he furls the sail.
(b) As he walks up the hill to his shack.
(c) As he hauls the marlin's bones out of the water.
(d) As he ties the boat to a rock.

3. How does the old man know the winds will blow all night?
(a) From the currents.
(b) From the seagulls.
(c) From the clouds.
(d) From the curve of his sail.

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

5. Why doesn't Santiago put the marlin into his boat?
(a) The marlin is too large.
(b) The skiff is too full of water.
(c) He thinks it would be disrespectful.
(d) He is blinded by seawater and cannot see.

6. What does the tourist woman think she is seeing as she looks at the fish skeleton?
(a) A biology experiment.
(b) Evidence of a feast the night before.
(c) What is left of a shark.
(d) A fish that died of starvation.

7. When does Santiago plan to be out to sea?
(a) Before it is light.
(b) All night.
(c) Right after daybreak.
(d) By noon.

8. What does the old man say he has to eat in his shack?
(a) Yellow rice and fish.
(b) Coconut and barbecue.
(c) Tuna sandwiches.
(d) Sardines and saltine crackers.

9. After eating the raw dolphin, what does the old man promise he will do in the future?
(a) Never eat on the boat again.
(b) Bring along salt and limes.
(c) Rig up a stove on his skiff.
(d) Bring sandwiches.

10. What is the one thing not beautiful about the Mako shark?
(a) His color.
(b) His movements.
(c) His dorsal fin.
(d) His jaws.

11. His back is already hurting him, and then what begins to give him pain?
(a) His hand cramps.
(b) He cuts himself with a knife.
(c) His neck hurts from continually looking down at the water.
(d) The sunlight gives him a headache.

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

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

14. How does Santiago know that he is not dead?
(a) He pinches himself.
(b) He falls down when he tries to get to the tiller.
(c) He feels hungry.
(d) He can bring back the pain in his hands by opening and closing them.

15. To what does Santiago compare his damaged hands while harpooning the shark?
(a) Joe DiMaggio's bone spur.
(b) The teeth of the shark.
(c) Hitting a home run.
(d) The pain of a sting ray's attack.

Short Answer Questions

1. How long does Santiago think he will be out to sea the morning he leaves to go far out?

2. Who does Santiago say should get the head of the marlin?

3. What brings Santiago awake suddenly in the night?

4. Why does the old man scoop water from the sea after the marlin stops jumping?

5. Why do the sharks finally go away?

(see the answer keys)

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