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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 does Evans present to Maturin for Aubrey?

2. Why does the Leopard make quite a stir when entering the port?

3. How many times have the Americans encountered the British?

4. What does Maturin realize?

5. What port has the HMS Leopard reached in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What surprises Aubrey once he is quartered at Asclepia?

3. Why do you think the USS Constitution leads the Java on a long chase to sea?

4. What are a couple other playful tongue-in-cheek type discussions that firmly entrench the fun tone of the novel?

5. 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?

6. What do you think it means that the officers are paroled and why is this so?

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

8. What tone for the novel is set and how is it set by the references to "Abraham"?

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When the Java is conquered by the USS Constitution, the sailors are put in prison while the officers are paroled and given freedom of movement. Discuss the following:

1. Is it fair that only officers are paroled? Why do you think this is the case back then?

2. Do you think the tradition of paroling Officers who are captured in war is still extant today? Why or why not?

3. What institution uses the concept of "parole" today and how does it work? Is it used on supposedly honorable people as it was back then?

Essay Topic 2

Some discussion takes place throughout the novel about various Captains and their command style. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Why? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems least effective? Why? Give examples.

3. Is mutiny ever justifiable? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

During this era when the book takes place, if a vessel under the command of a naval officer captures another vessel from a country with whom they are warring or captures a pirate vessel, etc., the crew of the victorious vessel shares in the goods, money and value of the vessel. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British had such a policy in place then?

2. What are the possible abuses that can arise from such a policy?

3. Why do you think this policy is eventually abandoned?

(see the answer keys)

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