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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Tony's requirement to the group?
(a) He requires that the course be maintained as perfectly as possible.
(b) He requires that they wash heir hands prior to taking the wheel.
(c) He requires that no one will talk while at sea.
(d) He requires that they say a seaman's prayer before taking the wheel.

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

3. What does the expedition party find on their destination on March 23?
(a) It was full of other visitors, tourists who have heard about the place, and they cannot do any collection activity.
(b) It requires a visitor's tax and they do not have enough money to pay the tax.
(c) It has abundant life form and they need more tha a month to fully collect all the interesting specimen present.
(d) It has little life form and there is not much of interest to collect.

4. Who is the most competent in commanding the wheel?
(a) Tex.
(b) Tony.
(c) Ed.
(d) John.

5. Why does the author rant about the outboard motor?
(a) Because it is very noisy.
(b) Because it has brought them much hardship during the expedition.
(c) Because its appearance is not attractive.
(d) Because it has a foul odor.

6. What explanation does the expedition party give to the Mexicans they meet on Espiritu Santo Island?
(a) They are looking at useless animals out of general scientific interest.
(b) They are collecting curios which will fetch a good price back at home.
(c) They are attracted to the culture of the place and want to stay there for good.
(d) They are just passing along, and their destination is Southeast Asia.

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

8. Who are the major characters and the expedition team leaders in the story?
(a) John Steinbeck and a World War II veteran.
(b) John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts.
(c) John Steinbeck and Tony Berry.
(d) Tony Berry and Ed Ricketts.

9. 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.

10. Which piece of equipment receives positive feedback from the author?
(a) The diesel engine.
(b) None. Everything was trashed by the author.
(c) The diesel engine and the outboard motor.
(d) The outboard motor.

11. What is The Log from the Sea of Cortez?
(a) It is a very special wood found by John Steinbeck and his close friend, Ed Ricketts when they went to Cortez.
(b) It is the wood sold out by the expedition party to several cities in Mexico.
(c) It is a seaman's book they found on the Sea of Cortez which contains important information on marine biology.
(d) It is the journal describing the marino biology expedition carried out by John Steinbeck and his close friend, Ed Ricketts.

12. What concept is consistent throughout the book, including the section dated March 24?
(a) The concept that war is something that should be looked at from an objective point of view, rather than subjective.
(b) The concept that men should set aside their differences when they are travelling at sea.
(c) The concept that safety should be the first priority in any travel, rather than adventure and mischiefs.
(d) The concept that biology should be approached with an eye towards how each individual part fits into the larger whole of nature.

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

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

15. Who is Tex?
(a) John Steinbeck's son.
(b) The leader of the four-string quartet hired for the expedition.
(c) The mechanic of the crew.
(d) Ed Rickett's son.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are dry-balls?

2. What is Steinbeck's observation of the Indians at Espiritu Santo Island?

3. What difference does the section dated March 24 have from the rest of the book?

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

5. What is the Western Flyer?

(see the answer keys)

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