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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the fish begins circling, what does the old man do?
(a) He ties down the line to wait for the fish to tire.
(b) He carefuly starts pulling in the line.
(c) He gives the fish more line.
(d) He runs up the skiff's sail.

2. What shows up that the old man thinks of as a friend to talk to?a
(a) An albacore.
(b) A sea turtle.
(c) A flying fish.
(d) A warbler.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Santiago consider as his principal friends on the ocean?

2. What indicates the old man's pride?

3. How does the boy act defensively about Santiago as the fishermen look at the marlin's skeleton?

4. How does the old man get hurt when the fish yanks on the line?

5. Why does Santiago drink his morning coffee slowly?

Short Essay Questions

1. After the marlin jumps during the night, there is a lull. What does it allow Santiago to do?

2. Discuss how Hemingway uses the man-of-war bird, the dolphins, and the flying fish to explain the nature of life in the sea.

3. How does the man-of-war bird help Santiago catch an albacore?

4. What new indication tells Santiago and the reader that this is a truly remarkable fish after the moonlight jump?

5. When there is another bite on one of his other lines, Santiago cuts it loose. Why?

6. What indicates that Santiago has no idea of catching the largest marlin ever landed in those waters?

7. Identify a few passages in the story that indicate the pride of Santiago.

8. Aside from the times that Santiago actually says, "I'm lonely", how does Hemingway emphasize that situation?

9. What does the fish do that helps revive Santiago from his weariness?

10. Describe the relationship between Manolin and Santiago.

(see the answer keys)

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