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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 tells Santiago that he is becoming unclear in the head?

2. Why does Santiago decide to re-bait the the small line over the stern of the boat?

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

4. How does he know which way to sail?

5. Which line below gives an indication of Santiago's respect for nature?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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.

4. How does Hemingway demonstrate Santiago's expertise as a sailor and fisherman?

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

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

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

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

9. Describe the relationship between Manolin and Santiago.

10. Why was it simple for Santiago to defeat the Negro of Cienfuegas when they had a rematch in the spring?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the effects of loneliness on people.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about how people turn to religion when times are difficult.

(see the answer keys)

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