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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. Why do the sharks finally go away?
(a) They know the old man is dying.
(b) Their heads hurt from the bat blows.
(c) They cannot see in the dark.
(d) There is nothing left to eat on the marlin.

2. Why does the old man wish to take Joe DiMaggio fishing?
(a) He would like to talk about baseball while he fished.
(b) He wants to get free tickets to a Yankee game.
(c) He thinks DiMaggio would be good at clubbing sharks to death.
(d) He heard that DiMaggio's father was a fisherman.

3. After eating the raw dolphin, what does the old man promise he will do in the future?
(a) Rig up a stove on his skiff.
(b) Bring sandwiches.
(c) Never eat on the boat again.
(d) Bring along salt and limes.

4. Which line below gives an indication of Santiago's respect for nature?
(a) God help me to have the cramp go.
(b) Light brisa, he thought, better weather for me than for you, fish.
(c) He thought of how some men feared being out of sight of land in a small boat.
(d) I wish I could feed the fish, he thought. He is my brother.

5. Why does Santiago always dream about lions?
(a) He dreams about lions eating a huge fish they catch.
(b) They are something he saw from a ship off the coast of Africa when he was a boy.
(c) He has always loved cats because they like fish.
(d) Lions make him feel strong and brave.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to snap the old man out of his conversation with the bird?

2. What happens to make the old man forget his aches and pains?

3. What is the boy's reaction when the proprietor of the Terrace compliments his catch the day before?

4. When do the sharks return after Santiago loses his makeshift harpoon?

5. After Santiago goes back to sleep, what is he dreaming of?

Short Essay Questions

1. By nightfall, Santiago recognizes a change in direction. Explain how he knows that.

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

3. How does the old man utilize the power of positive thinking as he struggles with the huge marlin during the night?

4. Santiago recalls that he used to sing on the turtle boats, whereas now he talks out loud to himself. When does he think the talking began?

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

6. Describe the danger the Portuguese man-of-war man of war poses to a fisherman in a boat.

7. Describe Santiago's meal on the second day and why he was so pleased after he ate.

8. How does Hemingway use conversation between the old man and the boy to show Santiago's age?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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