View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the shadow of a passing airplane do on the surface of the sea?
(a) Scares up a school of flying fish.
(b) Startles Santiago.
(c) Bounces like a basketball.
(d) Makes the dolphins go away.

2. What makes the flying fish jump out of the water and scatter feverishly?
(a) A shark.
(b) The man-of-war bird circling overhead.
(c) Dolphins.
(d) The rising sun.

3. How does Santiago estimate the size of the marlin?
(a) Twice as long as the last marlin he caught.
(b) Two feet longer than the skiff.
(c) Longer than a small tree is tall.
(d) Twice as long as he is tall.

4. What brings Santiago awake suddenly in the night?
(a) The marlin is jumping again and again out of the sea.
(b) The smell of the leftover raw fish.
(c) It starts to rain.
(d) Another plane flies over at a low altitude.

5. As the sun sets, what advantage does Santiago tell himself he has over the marlin?
(a) On the surface, he can see the stars but the marlin cannot.
(b) He will be able to sleep but the marlin cannot.
(c) Night time is easier for a man than for a fish.
(d) He has eaten but the marlin has not.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the old man think he could have made better preparation for eating the raw fish?

2. What does the old man fear since the shark had taken about forty pounds of flesh off the marlin?

3. Who does the boy fear will defeat the Yankees?

4. Does Santiago think of the wind as his friend?

5. What does the old man do to prepare for the arrival of the shark?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Show how Hemingway uses the literary form of personification as Santiago thinks about the great fish he has hooked.

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

5. On the second night, describe the old man's recollection that shows how strong he was years ago.

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

7. 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?

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 991 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample