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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. After killing the Mako shark, what does Santiago eat?
(a) A piece of the marlin where the shark had bitten it.
(b) Nothing. All his food is gone.
(c) More of the dried flying fish.
(d) The liver of the dead dolphin.

2. What does the old man eat to keep up his strength?
(a) Tacos the boy gave him.
(b) The last of his bait.
(c) The man-of-war bird.
(d) Raw tuna.

3. What does the old man think about a cramp?
(a) It humiliates oneself.
(b) It is something that goes away quickly.
(c) It is better than having to vomit.
(d) It will make him stop fishing.

4. What tells Santiago that he is becoming unclear in the head?
(a) He thinks he has two fish on his line.
(b) He tells himself to let the fish go.
(c) He thinks he sees the fish turning green.
(d) He tells the fish to come and kill him.

5. What happens to Santiago as he carries the mast up the hill?
(a) He hears the boy calling his name.
(b) He has a heart attack and dies.
(c) He falls and cannot get up.
(d) He gets tangled up in the sail.

6. What does the old man imagine about the marlin if it had been alive?
(a) He thinks the marlin would get away because it can jump so high.
(b) He imagines it fighting the sharks with the spear on its head.
(c) He thinks the marlin could outswim the sharks.
(d) He imagines the marlin would eat the harks.

7. 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 remembers surviving after falling overboard.
(c) He recalls killing a shark while he was swimming one day.
(d) He thinks about how the boy looks up to him as a great fisherman.

8. Why does Santiago feel sorry for the terns?
(a) He thinks they are not fast enough and the fish will eat them.
(b) He thinks they are too delicate for the sea.
(c) He thinks they are incredibly ugly.
(d) He thinks they will get lost over the sea.

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

10. Santiago's respect for nature and the marlin he has on his line is profound. What does he think about the people who will eat the great fish?
(a) They will receive some of the marlin's strength when they eat him.
(b) They will refuse to eat him.
(c) They will be more dignified than the marlin.
(d) They are unworthy to eat him.

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

12. When does Santiago realize the depth of his tiredness?
(a) As he ties the boat to a rock.
(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 furls the sail.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the tourist woman think she is seeing as she looks at the fish skeleton?

2. What does Santiago mean when he says that he must think because that is all he has left?

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

4. What does Santiago think about giving up hope?

5. What funny thing does Santiago say to himself after thinking about what he had not brought with him on this fishing trip?

(see the answer keys)

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