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

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

3. Why are the particular dates chosen for an expedition?
(a) The travelling rules have just been lifted which enabled the travelers to journey to sea.
(b) The destination, the Sea of Cortez, is known to have dangerous storms that quiet down during the period chosen by the travelers.
(c) The dates were chosen based on the birthdates of the travelers because they wanted to celebrate at sea.
(d) The expedition had to be done at a time when the travelers' children were vacationing with their grandparents.

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

5. What does Steinbeck think about the various descriptions they have read of Cabo San Lucas?
(a) Descriptions of Cabo San Lucas did not capture the abundance of marine life in the area.
(b) Descriptions were exaggerating and that the place is overrated.
(c) Descriptions were very creative, as there was really nothing much to say about Cabo San Lucas.
(d) No two descriptions of Cabo San Lucas are alike.

6. What is unique about the expedition described in the story?
(a) The travelers here prefer safety and getting the job done to encounters of a more colorful and dangerous nature.
(b) There is a priest on board who discusses philosophy and spirituality.
(c) There is nothing unique about the expedition.
(d) There is a four-string quartet on deck that provides music at night, for entertainment.

7. What is the duration covered by the story?
(a) March 20 to April 11, 1940.
(b) April 11 to May 20, 1940.
(c) March 11 to April 20, 1940.
(d) April 20, 1940 to March 11, 1941.

8. How does Steinbeck describe a scientist's reaction to death of a sea creature?
(a) He describes the scientist's approach to the experience as an opportunity to learn more about the species.
(b) He describes the scientist's approach to the experience as a child getting the toy that he wished for.
(c) He describes the scientist's approach to the experience as someone finally climbing a mountain that is so hard to climb.
(d) He describes the scientist's approach to the experience as an exciting adventure.

9. What does the log entry of March 12 say?
(a) It describes the boat race between the Western Flyer and another vessel.
(b) It describes the progress of the Western Flyer, and the team's actions during the travel.
(c) It describes the festivities that happened in Cortez, Mexico and how the expedition party won several prizes.
(d) It describes the fight between John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts.

10. 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) He describes Mexico in great detail, including the politics and legislations of the land.
(c) The difficulties associated with in planning and preparing for an expedition, as well as the difficulty of finding a good vessel and captain.
(d) The major characters of the story, their educational backgrounds, and their family tree.

11. What is teleological thinking, as introduced by the author on Easter Sunday, March 24?
(a) It is the thinking that relates men to sea creatures.
(b) It is the thinking that dictates how a sea traveler must chart his voyage.
(c) It is the thinking that is dependent on the current events shown on the television.
(d) It is the thinking that concerns itself with finding a specific cause and effect, and in laying out how things should be.

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

13. What does Steinbeck say about the authors of the descriptions written about Cabo San Lucas?
(a) Each description reflects the world view and personality of the author.
(b) Each description reflects the educational background of the author.
(c) Each description shows the biases of the author, depending on whether or not they liked their visit to the place.
(d) Each description is just a copycat of the earlier description published about the place.

14. Where does the expedition party go on the morning of March 23, Black Saturday?
(a) San Jose Island.
(b) La Luz Bay.
(c) San Diego Bay.
(d) Magdalena Bay.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is non-teleological thinking, as introduced by the author on Easter Sunday, March 24?

2. What does the expedition party do on their first night at sea?

3. What does the expedition party do after sorting the specimen they have collected?

4. What does Steinbeck notice about the sense of time of the local people of Cabo San Lucas?

5. What does the expedition party have for dinner on the evening of Good Friday, March 22?

(see the answer keys)

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