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

2. What promise does the old man make if he brings in the fish?
(a) He will invite the whole village for a fish dinner.
(b) He will demand that the boy's parents let him come back to him.
(c) He will make a pilgrimmage to the Virgin of Cobre.
(d) He will never go fishing again.

3. What does Santiago wish he could show the fish?
(a) How his hand was cramped.
(b) His club he would use to kill the fish.
(c) What manner of man the fish was up against.
(d) How many fathoms of line he had in the boat.

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

5. What does Santiago have besides his strength?
(a) An unsinkable boat.
(b) The very best equipment.
(c) The mind of a fish.
(d) Knowledge of many tricks and resolutions.

Short Answer Questions

1. What brings Santiago awake suddenly in the night?

2. What is the first thing Santiago asks the boy to bring him when he finally wakes up?

3. How does Santiago know that he is not dead?

4. What advice does Santiago give the boy about the boat he is now working on?

5. What commonality does Santiago observe in deep water fish when they pick up speed?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the meaning of the statement that Santiago loved the lions in his dreams like he loved the boy.

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

3. How does Santiago compare himself to the great sea turtles that are as big as a skiff and weigh a ton?

4. Since the fish is too large to fit into the boat, how does Santiago plan on getting it back to shore?

5. What is the metaphoric significance of the arm wrestling match in Casablanca?

6. There is something almost religious about Santiago's walk to his shack after landing with the bones of the marlin. Describe it.

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

8. After Santiago manages to kill the shovel-nosed sharks that have taken about a quarter of the meat off his marlin, how does he feel?

9. Why is the story about an old man instead of a young one?

10. What makes Manolin cry after he discovers the old man at his house?

(see the answer keys)

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