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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. What amazes Santiago as the boy talks about their first fishing trip?
(a) That the boy has forgotten how big the fish was.
(b) That the boy remembers everything so vividly.
(c) That the boy cannot remember one thing about the trip.
(d) That so many years have passed since that time.

2. How does the old man get hurt when the fish yanks on the line?
(a) The line cuts his hand where he was holding it.
(b) The yank causes his back to ache.
(c) The line gets tangled around his feet.
(d) The old man falls over and hits his head.

3. Why does the boy not go out with the fishing boats the morning of Santiago's return?
(a) The winds were too strong for the boats to sail that morning.
(b) He was too tired from fishing the day before.
(c) He found Santiago dead in his shack.
(d) He wanted to stay on the shore and watch for the old man's return.

4. His back is already hurting him, and then what begins to give him pain?
(a) He cuts himself with a knife.
(b) The sunlight gives him a headache.
(c) His hand cramps.
(d) His neck hurts from continually looking down at the water.

5. Because Santiago always wakes the boy every morning, what does the boy call him?
(a) My alarm clock.
(b) My big problem.
(c) My morning visitor.
(d) My tormentor.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Santiago fear if he does not sleep after two days?

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

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

4. What does the old man speculate he could use to buy good luck?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Relate the speech the boy makes to show his estimation of Santiago as a fisherman.

3. Describe the last moments that define the valor of the great marlin.

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

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

6. Describe the conditions during the first night after Santiago caught the big fish.

7. As the conflict between man and fish continues, what does Santiago contemplate to gain advantage for himself? Explain.

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

9. Santiago does not consider himself to be religious, but what happens to show that he was at one time before?

10. Why can the old man not let go of the line as the big fish tows his skiff farther out to sea?

(see the answer keys)

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