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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who takes care of Dan when he is recovering from his days at sea?
(a) Sei.
(b) Sachi.
(c) Chia.
(d) Maaia.

2. What do you think is the hardest thing about leaving for Millman?
(a) Leaving his daughter.
(b) Leaving his wife.
(c) Leaving his ailing father.
(d) Leaving his students.

3. Why does the author do what he does on his wedding night?
(a) He and his wife love to skydive.
(b) He and his wife are camping.
(c) He is depressed.
(d) His wife falls asleep first.

4. What does Ruth tell Dan to do in her note?
(a) Go home to his wife and daughter.
(b) Come back in three days.
(c) Go meditate for three days on top of Peli.
(d) Go ride a surfboard.

5. For whom does Mitsu yell?
(a) Mama Johnson.
(b) Mama Chia.
(c) Her husband.
(d) Mrs. Fujimoto.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Millman become more dejected as time passes on his travels?

2. What does Mama Chia say when Dan tells her he is drained and depressed?

3. What lesson from Socrates does the author have difficulty following in this early part of the book?

4. What does Socrates predict in a letter?

5. What appears as Dan sees himself in a circle?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Dan feel about his personal connection to India?

2. Why do you think Mama Chia resumes her work as midwife and kahuna after receiving a letter from Socrates about Dan?

3. What does Dan say about death and how do you think he will overcome his feelings about it?

4. How does Ruth respond to Dan's appearance at the party and what do you think this foreshadows?

5. What is the irony of Dan's situation out on the vast Pacific Ocean?

6. How does Mama Chia interpret Dan's bad dream?

7. Dan tries to stay awake and conscious because he's afraid of what might happen if he falls asleep. Do you think this is symbolic of anything?

8. Dan imagines all sorts of monsters floating beneath his surfboard; what might this metaphorically represent?

9. What is Dan's ultimate conclusion about his time in India?

10. Dan falls asleep, which could be what is called in literary terms, a "narrative contrivance." What do you think that means in context of this story and Dan falling asleep?

(see the answer keys)

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