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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What limitation does the expedition party have that is particular to their voyage?
(a) They have a limited supply of food and drinks, and medicine, too.
(b) They have only a small crew compared to other voyages with dozens of crew on board.
(c) They can only sail in the morning because their light is not as powerful as those of the other voyages.
(d) They only have six weeks to complete their entire voyage, on top of constraints presented by the tides.

2. What scientific testing does Steinbeck intend to do on the liquor?
(a) Determine if his crew can drink the liquor instead of the water for two weeks.
(b) Test if the seawater will work well with the liquor.
(c) Determine if the liquor can really substitute the engine fuel.
(d) Determine if the aphrodisiac liquor really works.

3. What does Tiny do when they reach Magdalena Bay?
(a) Tiny harpoons a porpoise.
(b) Tiny harpoons a sea anemone.
(c) Tiny harpoons a small crab.
(d) Tiny harpoons a sea-turtle.

4. What do the Mexican officials do with the expedition party?
(a) They arrive for a welcoming ceremony including coffee, smoking and a bit of paperwork.
(b) They arrive to inspect the expedition party's baggages including the marine life they have caught.
(c) They arrive to talk to Steinbeck and Ricketts another expedition to be done within the year.
(d) They arrive to discuss with Steinbeck the possibility of making a book about Cabo San Lucas.

5. What examples of marine life does the expedition party collect in Espiritu Santo Island?
(a) Porpoises and sea turtles.
(b) Starfishes and seahorses.
(c) Sea cucumbers and brittle-stars.
(d) Anemone fish and tadpoles.

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

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

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

9. What instrument does Raul use, which Steinbeck and Ricketts buy from him?
(a) A bow and arrow.
(b) A gun.
(c) A knife.
(d) A harpoon.

10. On March 18, where does the expedition party end up going when a wind rises before they were able to anchor?
(a) Pescadero Point.
(b) Magdalena Bay.
(c) San Diego Bay.
(d) Marina Bay.

11. Where is the expedition party heading?
(a) They arre heading east to their destination.
(b) They arre heading west to their destination.
(c) They arre heading north to their destination.
(d) They are heading south to their destination.

12. How are Tiny and Sparky presented?
(a) Tiny and Sparky are presented as similar to husband and wives, always looking after each other, and attending to each other's needs.
(b) Tiny and Sparky are presented as mortal enemies, always fighting each other and having opposing views.
(c) Tiny and Sparky are presented as two individuals who have no similarities or connection to each other.
(d) Tiny and Sparky are presented almost as two halves of one person, seeming to always do the same things at the same time.

13. What is Steinbeck's thesis about origins of names of places, specifically California?
(a) That the first settlers usually name the place after their first born.
(b) That names are randomly selected during the full moon.
(c) That names are usually given by the first priest to reside in the place.
(d) That names arise organically from the places themselves as much as they do from any purposeful naming of them.

14. What does Tex find out about the skiff's outboard motor?
(a) It is already falling apart and as such can no longer be used.
(b) It runs perfectly when sprinkled with salt first prior to starting.
(c) It runs perfectly when placed in water on board, but not in the actual ocean.
(d) It runs perfectly when there is no one aboard the ship.

15. According to John Steinbeck, what does a rusting, disorderly boat with its pain peeling off indicate?
(a) That the owner is most likely equally disheveled and careless.
(b) That the owner is most likely fond of changing clothes during the day.
(c) That the owner is most likely a very old man with some memory loss.
(d) That the owner is most likely afraid of needles and injections.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Steinbeck and Ricketts do to Tiny's prey?

2. What do members of the party feel when they are the one manning the wheel?

3. What is Tex's outstanding characteristic?

4. Who is the chef of the expedition?

5. What type of biologist is preferred by John Steinbeck?

(see the answer keys)

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