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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 kind of car does Dirk drive?

2. Why does ADM Hunter think CDR Dupree ordered his captain's log delivered to him?

3. What branch of the military does Dirk belong to?

4. What does Dirk find in the water when he swims out beyond the breakers at the beginning of Chapter 1?

5. What is a "fo'c's'le"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Cussler describe ADM Sandecker at the beginning of Chapter that makes him seem like a likely person to work with Dirk Pitt?

2. What are the different mysteries or questions that ADM Hunter enumerates as he reads the log?

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

4. Why is it important for ADM Hunter's men to get to the accident site when the gray van runs off the road before the Honolulu police?

5. In the hotel bar in Chapter 3, Adrian makes the statement: "Considering your amateur standing and less than mediocre talents, you're vastly overpriced. Whom is she speaking to and what does she mean?

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

7. 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.

8. How does Adrian Hunter feel about her father? Use quotes from Chapter to support your position.

9. What is the significance of the Lillie Marlene?

10. Cussler also provides good information about shark behavior and risks. What is it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Willing suspension of disbelief" is a necessary frame of mind for any reader or viewer of fiction material. However, in spite of accepting certain fantastic occurrences, readers will often begin to resist small strains on their credulity. Why does this kind of resistance begin to build in the mind of the reader? Analyze the concept of "willing suspension of disbelief" and why it is necessary to enjoy the book. Analyze your own responses to "unbelievable" parts of the book.

Essay Topic 2

How would you characterize Cussler's writing style in Pacific Vortex? Analyze all of the elements of writing style including the perspective, bias, structure, diction and syntax, imagery, etc. Is this a laudable first effort on Cussler's part? Is there perhaps a stylistic reason it is not the first published book?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the character of Captain Orl Cinana. Captain Cinana's reaction to Dirk when he arrives in ADM Hunter's office for the first time is somewhat markedly different from the attitudes of the others yet changes that same evening at the bar. Identify other inconsistencies in Cinana's character and identify how they fit with the revelation of Cinana's actual role in the plot.

(see the answer keys)

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