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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What happens to snap the old man out of his conversation with the bird?
(a) Several shark fins appear in the water.
(b) The fish gives a strong yank on the line.
(c) An albacore jumps into his boat.
(d) The bird starts singing.

3. Who does the boy fear will defeat the Yankees?
(a) The Red Sox.
(b) The Baltimore Orioles.
(c) The Cleveland Indians.
(d) The White Sox.

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

5. How does he get something to eat?
(a) He catches seaweed and shakes the small shrimp out of it.
(b) He puts the small line into the water and catches a tuna.
(c) He eats some of the rotting sardines and hopes it does not make him sick.
(d) He cuts a slice out of the marlin.

6. What idea does Santiago have to help tire the marlin out?
(a) Catching more dolphin and making them pull against the marlin.
(b) Raising the sail when the wind blows in the opposite direction.
(c) Tying off the line and rowing in the opposite direction.
(d) Lashing the oars across the stern of the skiff to increase drag.

7. Who helps Santiago as he lands his boat?
(a) The boy.
(b) The whole city turns out to welcome him back.
(c) No one. Everyone is at home in bed.
(d) The fishermen who are laughing at him.

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

9. 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) Cutting it up as soon as he caught it and letting it sun dry.
(c) Splashing sea water on the bow and letting it dry to get the salt.
(d) Chopping it up into smaller pieces.

10. While Santiago pulls in the small dolphin he catches on the stern line, what changes does the marlin make?
(a) He starts going in circles.
(b) He changes course and heads south.
(c) He picks up speed.
(d) None. He continues to swim steadily.

11. What is Santiago's plan as the fist keeps circling?
(a) To give the fish less and less line.
(b) To let out the line.
(c) To jump in to fight the fish.
(d) To let the boat turn around and around as the fish circles.

12. How did the old man know the marlin had turned eastward?
(a) The skiff began to go slower against the east wind.
(b) His compass indicated the direction.
(c) The afternoon sun was on his back.
(d) The eastern sea breezes grew stronger.

13. After many tries to get the marlin alongside the skiff, what does Santiago reach for?
(a) Another bite of flying fish.
(b) His water bottle.
(c) His large casting net.
(d) His harpoon.

14. How does Santiago justify killing the shark?
(a) The reward money.
(b) Self-defense.
(c) Saving other lives.
(d) Respect for the marlin.

15. What does Santiago mean when he says that he must think because that is all he has left?
(a) Thinking will keep him from feeling lonely without the boy there to help him.
(b) He can only survive by using the intelligence he has that sharks do not have.
(c) His thinking will help keep him awake after losing so much sleep.
(d) As long as he keeps on thinking, he knows he is still alive.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens by midnight as Santiago returns to the land?

2. What evidence does the old man have of his long, hard fight with the marlin?

3. What does the old man do to prepare for the arrival of the shark?

4. Why does Santiago wish the marlin would sleep?

5. What does Santiago suddenly realize he has been doing?

(see the answer keys)

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