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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 state of the health of Herr Wilibald Graf?

2. What does Herr Julius Lowenthal sell?

3. Who is the ship's doctor?

4. To where is La Condesa headed?

5. In what country had La Condesa lived?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Freytag tell Mrs. Treadwell about his wife?

2. Who are the Spanish people and why do they create such a stir among the passengers?

3. Who conducts the Sunday morning religious services on the ship?

4. Describe the confrontation between Herr Hansen and Herr Rieber.

5. What does Dr. Schumann realize after having a conversation with Herr Graf?

6. Why has the time ashore made Frau Rittersdorf particularly melancholy?

7. Who are the members of the Spanish dance troupe?

8. What are the first pranks of Ric and Rac?

9. What is the surprising reaction of Ric and Rac's theft of La Condesa's pearl necklace?

10. What shared experiences do the passengers have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author writes about Dr. Schumann in this way: "...the island he would never see again, had not in fact seen at all, except as a steep road from the dock with a small white carriage climbing away slowly taking with it all the vanities and illusions of his life." What literary technique is used in this example? What is the author trying to say about Dr. Schumann?

Essay Topic 2

The author includes much symbolism in the story. Consider the main symbols of a German ship with several German passengers headed for Germany. What does she mean by this? Also consider the fact that Americans Jenny and David wanted to debark elsewhere but are forced to sail on to the end point of Germany. What it meant by this. Consider the world political stage before answering.

Essay Topic 3

The book is written in three chapters of vastly differing lengths. What is the purpose of writing the book in this way? What is the author trying to convey with this style?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,031 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample