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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 name does Parker call Dick?

2. How does Dick hurt May's feelings?

3. What happens to Elsie on board the ship?

4. In what did Dick unknowingly smuggle heroin for Larry?

5. What does Parker take out of an unidentified buoy with an orange pennant?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author show the vulnerable side of Elsie's normally strong personality?

2. What does Parker's cunning behavior begin to signify?

3. Explain Dick's thoughts as he begins to understand the complications of the drug smuggling situation with Parker.

4. What is revealed about Dick's leadership skills on the documentary trip?

5. How does Elsie indicate that she is more interested in Dick and a relationship than he is regarding his not contacting her when he is out to sea longer than expected?

6. What is Dick's employment pattern and how does he plan to make money to finish his boat?

7. How does Dick justify the loss of his family's land by taking advantage of the relationships he has with wealthy people in the area?

8. What are the differences between how May and Elsie view Dick's boat project?

9. What is Dick's internal conflict about working for others to get the funds necessary to finish his boat?

10. What do Miss Perry's walking sticks represent to Dick?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Casey uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two examples you can identify in the novel and note why they are examples of irony.

Essay Topic 2

SPARTINA is a classic story of man vs. nature. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the ongoing conflict between Dick and Parker. What is the source of the conflict? Why does it perpetuate?

(see the answer keys)

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