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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. According to Amira in Chapter 41, what is the look?

2. In Chapter 39, who does Vallenar wish to interrogate about the actions of the Americans on the Rolvaag?

3. How does Puppup react in Chapter 21 as Lloyd, Glinn, and McFarlane admire Isla Desolacion?

4. What is the weather like in Chapter 1 as Masangkay unearths part of his find?

5. What is the 'night lunch' mentioned in Chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Glinn want to add Puppup to their crew? Where does Glinn find Puppup in Chapter 18?

2. What does a native man find on Isla Desolacion when paddles there in Chapter 2? What does he do about it?

3. Why does McFarlane tell Britton in chapter 14 that he decided to study meteorites? What question does Britton ask McFarlane about this expedition?

4. What report does McFarlane find in Amira's quarters in Chapter 37? What does this report say? How does McFarlane feel about this report?

5. What does Masangkay anticipate will be the rewards for discovering a unique meteorite on the Isla Desolacion? Who does he wish to pay back?

6. Who are the people Sam McFarlane has hired to help him search for meteorites in the Kalahari Desert? How does he win their trust? How does he lose it?

7. What strikes McFarlane as luxurious when he boards the Rolvaag for the first time? What is Glinn's explanation for this unexpected luxury?

8. What does McFarlane learn about Amira's relationship with Glinn in Chapter 38 that sheds light on Glinn's personality?

9. What is being auction at a Christie's auction house in Chapter 3? What is unusual about the buyer?

10. What story of the Ice Limit does Britton tell the people at her table during the first dinner on board the Rolvaag? What famous writer wrote a story about this incident? How is this incident related to Captain Britton? What is important about this story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following character relationships in detail:

1) McFarlane and Masangkay

2) Lloyd and McFarlane

3) Lloyd and Glinn

4) Glinn and McFarlane.

Essay Topic 2

How do the writers of this novel structure their novel? For what reason? What benefit is there in super short chapters? What benefit is there in multiple view points? How are these elements a deterrent to the comprehension of the novel? How do the writers reveal the true nature of the meteorite? Why does it take the characters so long to figure out the nature of the meteorite? How do the writers use this method of revelation to build suspense in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

What happens once the crew abandons the Rolvaag? Why were they forced to abandon ship in the first place? Where do they go? How do they expect to get rescued? What happens the following morning? What does Amira give to McFarlane? For what reason? What happens to Amira? What happens to McFarlane? What happens to Lloyd? Is this an appropriate result for Lloyd? What does McFarlane realize the meteorite was? Is this accurate information or is McFarlane mentally unbalanced because of the trauma of the ship sinking?

(see the answer keys)

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