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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the old man think about a cramp?

2. Who helps Santiago as he lands his boat?

3. What does Santiago promise that he cannot do right at the moment?

4. How do the brown sharks attack the old man's fish?

5. What idea does Santiago have to help tire the marlin out?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Explain the first indication that Santiago has that he has caught a very large fish, even though he has not seen it and does know know what kind of fish it is.

3. When the big fish first takes the bait, the old man thought about what he was sure the fish would do but he did not say it out loud. Why?

4. Toward the end of the second day, Santiago assesses his situation and thinks he has several new advantages. What are they?

5. What is Santiago's analysis of having a cramp, especially when one is alone?

6. What knowledge does seeing the marlin bring to the old man?

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

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

9. Why did Santiago give up arm wrestling?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about respect for nature. Use Santiago as support for your position.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about loyalty. Use Manolin as your example.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the importance of knowing what you are up against in any conflict. In the essay explain how it helped Santiago to see his fish.

(see the answer keys)

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