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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are John Steinbeck's lamentations about?
(a) The weather being unpredictable which makes a sea expedition particularly hard.
(b) The soaring prices of gasoline and labor which he needs for his expedition.
(c) About how short a time he has to do all the things he wants to do.
(d) The lack of information available to him necessary to plan an expedition to the sea.

2. What is Tex's outstanding characteristic?
(a) He loves to sleep in the daytime and do chores at night.
(b) He is afraid of the water.
(c) He cannot make a left turn.
(d) He loves diesel engines.

3. What comparison does Steinbeck often refer to?
(a) Moon and men and their relationship.
(b) Fruits and men and their relationship.
(c) Tides and men and their relationship.
(d) Marine organisms and men and their relationship

4. What are dry-balls?
(a) They are the dried cotton balls brought to sea as part of the medicine kit.
(b) They are the dried coconut husks used by the local children to play ball.
(c) They are the biologists who study dead, preserved animals.
(d) They are the medicines given to the expedition party by the locals.

5. What is the Western Flyer?
(a) It is the boat owned and maintained by Ed Ricketts.
(b) It is a favorite watering hole by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts.
(c) It is a rare species of bird found only in Mexico.
(d) It is a well-maintained vessel owned by Tony Berry used for the expedition.

6. What is the author's description of Espiritu Santo Island?
(a) It is an area with sandy beaches and large rocks resting on the sand, under which there may be some interesting creatures.
(b) It is an area with very colorful cottages which serves as resting place for travelers.
(c) It is an area that is just starting its tourism industry, as such has still low prices for food and lodgings.
(d) It is an area that is highly commercialized, and almost all wares can be found.

7. What is taking place on the day before the expedition party leaves for its journey?
(a) A mass to bless the travelers in their journey.
(b) A celebration for the success of the expedition.
(c) A celebration marking the end of the sardine fishing season.
(d) A mass asking for good harvest.

8. What are the two types of biologists, as discussed by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts?
(a) Those who work at night and those who work during the day.
(b) Those who study dead, preserved animals and those who study life in all its complexity.
(c) Those who have their own laboratory and those who rent a space for their laboratory works.
(d) Those who teach in the university and those who work for corporations.

9. Aside from their daily experiences during the expedition, what other topics are discussed by the author?
(a) Philosophy, mankind, biology and history.
(b) Politics, religion, physics and war.
(c) Literature, entertainment, laws and environment.
(d) Culinary arts, Hollywood, and botany.

10. What is a Sally Lightfoot crab?
(a) It is a small crab with giant feet, and the name is meant as a private joke among residents of Cabo San Lucas.
(b) It is a female crab which clings to people's feet.
(c) It is a particularly agile, small crab which seems to elude every attempt for its capture.
(d) It is a female crab with a very unique tattoo on its shell, shaped like a foot.

11. What is interesting about the bonito and other fish that caught Steinbeck and Ricketts' attention?
(a) They swim opposite the sea current.
(b) Their colors are different from when they are alive to when they are dead and preserved.
(c) They change their colors as the sun shines on them.
(d) They swim in groups of twelve.

12. There is a struggle for scraps and morsels of food.Who are the participants in the struggle?
(a) The local boys in the area.
(b) Tiny and Sparky.
(c) The Indians in the area.
(d) Wild pigs, vultures and dogs.

13. What happens to the outboard motor on Black Saturday, March 23?
(a) It was stuck by some piece of shirt and can no longer be used.
(b) It does not help them approach the island.
(c) It falls apart and refused to run again.
(d) It chug-chugs noisily before breaking apart.

14. What does the author describe in the story, particularly at the beginning of the book?
(a) The famous sea expeditions in the past, and how long each expedition lasted.
(b) The difficulties associated with in planning and preparing for an expedition, as well as the difficulty of finding a good vessel and captain.
(c) He describes Mexico in great detail, including the politics and legislations of the land.
(d) The major characters of the story, their educational backgrounds, and their family tree.

15. What happens to the vessel during Tiny and Sparky's watch?
(a) The Western Flyer stays on course and speeds up, making better sailing time.
(b) The Western Flyer stops all of a sudden, and almost tilts down.
(c) The Western Flyer attracts a lot of fish. In the process, the expedition team do not get hungry while Tiny and Sparky are on watch.
(d) The Western Flyer often goes off-course during their watch but they do not get into serious trouble anyway.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Steinbeck think about the various descriptions they have read of Cabo San Lucas?

2. What is the concept explored by the author in the section that pertains to boats and men?

3. What is unique about the expedition described in the story?

4. What instrument does Raul use, which Steinbeck and Ricketts buy from him?

5. Who are the major characters and the expedition team leaders in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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