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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 is the board like that Dan finds?

2. What does she do after drawing the figure?

3. What does Mama Chia do after Dan has slept for 36 hours?

4. What does Dan find at the end of chapter 4?

5. What returns to Dan as he is healing?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Mama Chia tell Dan after waking him from sleeping for 36 hours, and what do you think she means?

3. Describe Dan's experience in his dreamlike state in chapter 7 and his reaction to the dream.

4. Chapter four opens with what quote and what do you think it means?

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

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

7. Why do you think Sachi asks her little brother to tell her about God?

8. Why is Dan depressed on his honeymoon?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mama Chia tells a story about Sachi, who goes up to her baby brother and asks, "'Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget.'" Discuss the following:

What do you think this story means?

Do you think traditional religions would have an explanation for this story?

Do you think infants and young children are closer to God than older children and adults? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

As Mama Chia and Dan are hiking, Mama Chia declares that Dan is strong enough to carry her backpack and sets off. Dan laments, knowing that he is supposed to do something but does nothing. Discuss one of the following:

Analyze what you think Dan is supposed to do and why he seems paralyzed in inaction.

How does Dan finally overcome his inability to do what he is supposed to do?

Do you feel there is something important in your life that you are to do? Discuss your approach to fulfilling that sense of purpose.

(see the answer keys)

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