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

2. When the marlin slows and is steady, Santiago finally gets some sleep. What does he dream of instead of lions?
(a) Cutting his hand on the fishing line.
(b) A vast school of porpoises.
(c) A flight on a plane.
(d) Arm wrestling with the marlin.

3. When Santiago spots the shark, what does he know about the predator?
(a) It will not swim fast enough to catch the boat.
(b) It will not bother him if it is not hungry.
(c) It will try to knock him out of the boat.
(d) It has no fear and will do whatever it wants.

4. Why does the old man's boat move faster as he nears the land?
(a) There is little weight now on the side of his boat.
(b) He is being carried by the Gulf Stream.
(c) Sharks are pushing it along.
(d) The winds pick up.

5. What does the tourist woman think she is seeing as she looks at the fish skeleton?
(a) A biology experiment.
(b) Evidence of a feast the night before.
(c) A fish that died of starvation.
(d) What is left of a shark.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the old man eat to get more strength after he washed his face and hands?

2. What are Santiago's last three weapons he can use against the sharks?

3. How long had Santiago gone without catching a fish?

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

5. How many rows of teeth does the Mako shark have?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Give an example of how Santiago refuses to give up after losing the harpoon.

3. It was noon when the old man hooked the fish and four hours later he thinks about something odd. What is it?

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

5. Why did Santiago decide he could sleep a while on the second night?

6. How do you know that Santiago only intended to fish for one day when he left to go far out into the sea?

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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