View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why do whaling ships have prominent crow's nests?
(a) To balance the ship when a whale carcass is attached.
(b) To facilitate spotting whales.
(c) To be able to bombard the whale from a goodly height.
(d) To signal other ships that a particular whale is a ship's find.

2. What does Aubrey notice as Surprise sails South?
(a) The bilges are smelling particularly badly.
(b) The crew is hiding something from Aubrey.
(c) Divisions in the crews.
(d) The crew is getting along better than usual.

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

4. What is HMS Danaë carrying?
(a) A hold full of liberated slaves.
(b) Gold in iron chests.
(c) A large cache of weapons.
(d) A hold full of coffee.

5. What happens to several of Aubrey's officers?
(a) They are ill.
(b) They desert.
(c) They retire.
(d) They are promoted onto other ships.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. From where are earwigs supposedly removed?

3. What does Aubrey feel compelled to do concerning Hollom?

4. What is Maturin's position on board the Surprise?

5. What information does Allen have about whales?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Aubrey and Maturin react to being on the desolate island?

2. What ship does Surprise recapture and what do they learn about Norfolk?

3. What does Allen say about how whales are used?

4. Where does Surprise reach at the opening to chapter 6, and what does it do there?

5. What transpires in Aubrey's meeting with Admiral Sir Ives?

6. What does Horner do to himself and how does the crew react?

7. What happens when Maturin and Aubrey return to the Surprise?

8. What problems develop in sick berth?

9. Who is Midshipman Hollom, and what does Aubrey do concerning the man?

10. What does Aubrey discover on the island and in the water approaching the island?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,025 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample