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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does the old man's boat move faster as he nears the land?
(a) He is being carried by the Gulf Stream.
(b) There is little weight now on the side of his boat.
(c) Sharks are pushing it along.
(d) The winds pick up.

2. Why do the sharks finally go away?
(a) Their heads hurt from the bat blows.
(b) There is nothing left to eat on the marlin.
(c) They know the old man is dying.
(d) They cannot see in the dark.

3. What evidence does the old man have of his long, hard fight with the marlin?
(a) The damage to his boat.
(b) The long wet line he has now pulled into the skiff.
(c) His damaged hands and his painful back.
(d) The look in the marlin's eye.

4. In great pain from the cold, what does the old man hope for?
(a) That he will not have to fight the sharks again.
(b) That a boat will come out and help him.
(c) That there is a cold beer waiting for him.
(d) That the wind will pick up.

5. What indicates the old man's pride?
(a) His shame at having such a patched up sail.
(b) He always wears a new shirt.
(c) At first refusing to eat what the boy has brought him.
(d) Shame at not having enough yellow rice and fish to share with the boy.

6. What is Santiago doing when the boy returns to his shack?
(a) He is looking for something to eat.
(b) He is making a new harpoon.
(c) He is still sleeping.
(d) He is reading the baseball scores.

7. How does Santiago console himself after the first shark attack?
(a) That it was all a dream.
(b) That the worst was over.
(c) That he was still alive.
(d) That he had killed the shark.

8. What are Santiago's last three weapons he can use against the sharks?
(a) A broken knife, some big fish hooks, and the oars.
(b) The broken water bottle, the oars, and a club.
(c) Two oars, the tiller, and a short club.
(d) The oars, the anchor, and some line.

9. What commonality does Santiago observe in deep water fish when they pick up speed?
(a) They turn yellow when they are angry or frightened.
(b) They are always hungry.
(c) They have purple stripes or spots.
(d) They all look green in the water.

10. What does Santiago mean when he thinks that man is not made for defeat?
(a) Man cannot lose a battle.
(b) Man can only be defeated if he loses his mind.
(c) Man will always win over animals.
(d) Man can be destroyed but not defeated.

11. Does Santiago think of the wind as his friend?
(a) Yes, because it is always there.
(b) No, because it is fickle.
(c) No, because it storms a lot in the Caribbean.
(d) Yes. Sometimes.

12. What simile does Hemingway use to show the boy's admiration for Santiago?
(a) He calls Sanitiago his hero.
(b) He says that Santiago is like Joe DiMaggio.
(c) He likens Santiago's fishing greatness to the greatest baseball managers.
(d) He compares Santiago to a giant shark.

13. Why does Santiago drink his morning coffee slowly?
(a) It has too much sugar and condensed milk in it.
(b) It is too hot.
(c) He cannot afford another cup of coffee.
(d) It is all he will have until he returns that night.

14. What contrast does Santiago think about that shows the hard work ahead of him as night falls?
(a) He considers the difference between night and day while fishing.
(b) He thinks about how deep the marlin is and how high the stars are.
(c) He thinks about having to kill the marlin and is glad he does not have to kill the stars.
(d) He thinks about how much larger the marlin is than the tiny stars.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Santiago have besides his strength?

2. What does the old man imagine about the marlin if it had been alive?

3. What does Santiago plan to do to change his luck?

4. What does his cramped hand make Santiago think about the boy?

5. What is Santiago's secret for deep sea fishing?

(see the answer keys)

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