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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 are the two most important things about the sub's condition that Dirk reports to Boland?

2. What does the manuscript turn out to be?

3. How does the Starbuck hit the seafloor?

4. What words does LCDR Boland have tattooed on his arm?

5. Who is Adrian Hunter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Dirk sees no need to show up on time to his "date" with ADM Hunter (to report for duty). How is this reflective of both Dirk's personality and his attitude towards ADM Hunter?

2. What is a seamount?

3. What is the significance of the Lillie Marlene?

4. How are the dead bodies described on the Lillie Marlene? How does this description contribute to the myth of the Pacific Vortex?

5. What is the Fullerton Fracture Zone? Does it actually exist?

6. Why is the Martha Ann disguised to look like a rust-bucket merchant ship?

7. What is the significance of there not being any paper in the crew's lounge area of the Starbuck?

8. Cussler gives a good description of rip tides after Dirk has swum out beyond the breakers at Kaena Point. Describe them, why they are dangerous and explain how best to swim through them if caught in one.

9. Other than the submarine not being wholly flooded, what is the single most important fact that Dirk relays over the Starbuck's radio to the Martha Ann and why is it of the utmost significance?

10. Dirk notes some distinct oddities about the Starbuck's final resting place and the condition. Describe what these oddities mean.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Review the excerpts in Chapter 2 with the knowledge from Chapter 8 that the log is not written by CDR Dupree. What are some oddities, some of them enumerated by ADM Hunter, that clearly show a lack of knowledge about the Navy, submarines, or Dupree, that would have triggered skepticism if not read with the preconceived notion that the log is authentic?

Essay Topic 2

Carefully analyze the "real" condition of the Starbuck with respect to international maritime law. Whose waters is she sitting in and who can rightfully claim her? How do the laws of maritime salvage govern this kind of at-sea loss? Most importantly, how does this contribute to the urgency and top-secretiveness in the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Pacific Vortex! is the first Dirk Pitt novel Clive Cussler wrote (even though it is published much later, after several other Pitt adventures) and indeed it shows signs of being a novice attempt. The character development is somewhat sporadic, there are questions or plot mysteries that are later left unanswered and some scenes that almost seem extraneous which are only loosely tied together by the final explanation. Characterize some of these "novice" elements using firm examples from the book. At the end, is there anything you wondered, "yes, but what about...?" How could Cussler have woven these plot threads or characters more tightly into the fabric of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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