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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Wallis?
(a) The Captain of the La Flèche.
(b) The local intelligence officer.
(c) Maturin's brother-in-law.
(d) Aubrey's first mate.

2. What do the sailors believe when they encounter a vessel?
(a) It is from Brazil.
(b) It is a friendly vessel at an appointed rendezvous.
(c) It is a French frigate.
(d) It is a merchant vessel.

3. Where does the Constitution land?
(a) Boston.
(b) New York.
(c) Charleston.
(d) Norfolk.

4. Where is Aubrey to recover?
(a) Asclepia, a sanitorium run by Evans' relative Dr. Choate.
(b) In the Naval hospital.
(c) Aboard the Constitution.
(d) In prison in Boston.

5. What course of action makes sense?
(a) A boarding party.
(b) Running out to open sea.
(c) Staying out of range of the Constitution's guns.
(d) Staging the battle in three phases.

Short Answer Questions

1. What separates all the life boats from each other?

2. What does Maturin realize?

3. What seems a possibility to the men after a few days?

4. What famous joke of Aubrey's does Aubrey perpetuate on Maturin?

5. How experienced is Maturin in cricket?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think it would be a serious faux pas to not attend the Captain's table to which one is invited in order to manage one's specimens as Maturin almost does?

2. Why is it somewhat miraculous that the HMS Leopard pulls into Pulo Batang successfully?

3. What do you think it means that Raikes' body was gnawed upon and do you think that is acceptable?

4. What answers Aubrey's unspoken question as to why the Captain of the Java does not first engage in long-range gunfire before closing to board?

5. Do you think it is helpful for the author to present some background information from other books in the series, particularly the one just preceding this one?

6. What does Maturin learn that explains the Navy's treatment of Aubrey?

7. Why do you think the sailors on board La Flèche do not take the war with the United States very seriously?

8. Do you think it would be difficult for the men to stay optimistic if after spotting a ship but they do not see you?

9. Who is Mrs. Wogan and how does she figure in the previous novel, which is mentioned in the initial chapters of this novel?

10. Why do the boats become separated and what are the advantages and disadvantages of that happening?

(see the answer keys)

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