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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Aubrey feel compelled to do concerning Hollom?
(a) Offer him a position aboard Surprise.
(b) Fight a duel for him.
(c) Report to Admiral Stearns about Hollom's incompetence.
(d) Give him some money.

2. Whom does Maturin observe trying to flirt with Mrs. Horner?
(a) Martin.
(b) No one.
(c) Hollom.
(d) Coleman.

3. What does Maturin do pro bono?
(a) Sends specimens to the British Naturlist Society.
(b) Performs surgery for local indigents.
(c) Gathers intelligence for the British.
(d) Nothing.

4. Who is Midshipman Hollom?
(a) An aging midshipman unable to achieve promotion to Lieutenant.
(b) Mrs. Fielding's cousin.
(c) A sailor on board the Celebration.
(d) Mr. Fielding's brother-in-law.

5. What does Dundas suggest to Aubrey?
(a) To take on Mr. Allen as surgeon's assistant.
(b) To take on Mr. Allen as sailing master.
(c) To retire.
(d) To take on Mr. Fielding as sailing master.

6. Who is Mr. Wray?
(a) A retired British lawyer.
(b) A French spy.
(c) Maturin's oldest and best friend.
(d) A special ops undercover British agent.

7. How does Surprise send mail home?
(a) With a British man-o-war they meet up with.
(b) With the Indiamen.
(c) With a Dutch freighter.
(d) With a private British schooner.

8. What does Diana request of Maturin?
(a) A refutation of his alleged affair with another woman.
(b) A new overseer.
(c) Passage to see him.
(d) More household expense money.

9. How are whales stripped of their blubber?
(a) They wait until they get to port and the whales are sliced in long strips.
(b) In one continuous spiral strip.
(c) By cutting chunks out of the hide.
(d) By boiling the carcass whole.

10. What good news does Surprise receive?
(a) Dutch merchants are running from the Americans.
(b) USS Constitution has been captured.
(c) French navy lost a huge battle recently.
(d) USS Norfolk is behind schedule.

11. What rumors once existed about Mrs. Fielding?
(a) She was a French spy.
(b) She was having an affair with Nelson.
(c) She was having an affair with Aubrey.
(d) She was a British undercover agent.

12. With whom does Surprise rendezvous unexpectedly?
(a) The USS Constitution.
(b) Several Indiamen.
(c) The HMS Dagger.
(d) A French privateer.

13. How does Maturin relax?
(a) Running around the poop deck.
(b) Writing poetry.
(c) Climbing the rigging.
(d) Taking laudanum.

14. What happens to over half of the whales killed?
(a) They are lost and not rendered into oil.
(b) They are eaten by sharks.
(c) They are brought successfully to port.
(d) They have no oil and are sunk.

15. What does Maturin do with the blood from the crew?
(a) Throws it out.
(b) Uses it to catch several large sharks.
(c) Uses it to trap mosquitoes.
(d) Uses it to create an antidote.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who has Aubrey eyed in town as a possible romantic partner before he learns her identity?

2. What does Aubrey notice as Surprise sails South?

3. What is ambergris?

4. Why does Aubrey contrive to cross the equator on Sunday?

5. From where are live eels supposedly removed?

(see the answer keys)

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