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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 Dan jokingly say he'll call the diet he follows while floating on the surfboard?

2. Why does Dan have to rest?

3. Everyone the author looks, what does he see?

4. Who takes care of Dan when he is recovering from his days at sea?

5. What does Mama Chia say she did nine years ago?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. Did you think it is smart of Dan to just mount a surfboard and go out from shore having no experience with this kind of activity?

4. How does Dan decide to commence his search for the woman of whom Socrates had once told Dan, and do you think that is a logical solution?

5. Why does Dan decide to stop over in Hawaii and what do you think is the reason for his layover?

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

7. What is the phrase that Ruth uses that catches Dan's attention and how would you characterize their encounter?

8. What is the island of Molokai and why is it appropriate that Dan wash up on its shore?

9. Dan says he would trade enlightenment for one glass of "pure, cool, quenching water." What do you think this says about the human condition?

10. What do you think about what Mama Chia says about suffering?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Dan has a stopover in Hawaii, he decides to search for a woman about whom Socrates told him. Discuss the following:

How likely is it that Dan will find the woman for whom he is searching in a city of several hundred thousand (at that time)people? Do you think the fact that he finds her is miraculous or coincidental?

Dan might say his finding Ruth Johnson is not coincidental but rather serendipitous or perhaps meant to be. Discuss this idea.

What does it say about Dan or Dan's situation that he even attempts such a daunting task as finding a woman whose name, age, place of work or home is unknown in a city the size of Honolulu?

Essay Topic 2

Mama Chia leads Dan to a village of people suffering from leprosy. Discuss the following:

What is Dan's initial reaction to his "assignment" from Mama Chia? Why?

How and why does Dan's attitude eventually change? Does the change seem sincere?

What do you think is the purpose of this situation in which Mama Chia places Dan?

How do you think you would handle a similar situation?

Essay Topic 3

Mama Chia's purpose in mentoring Dan seems to be to teach him about the three selves. Discuss one of the following:

What are the three selves. Discuss fully.

Discuss the symbolic representations of the three selves both in the book and in your own experience.

Discuss whether or not you think the idea of three selves has validity as truth.

(see the answer keys)

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