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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Steinbeck see the history of the human race?
(a) It is a series of bursts of nervous energy.
(b) It is a very logical and predictable progression.
(c) It is not a linear progression, but as a series of bursts of nervous energy.
(d) It is totally unpredictable and without pattern.

2. What does the expedition party use instead of the tide chart to watch the rise and fall of the tides?
(a) Steinbeck's journal.
(b) A sailor's watch.
(c) Ricketts' compass.
(d) A marked stick.

3. What does the expedition party hear about Mulege which make it an undesirable destination?
(a) That visitors are clubbed by unfriendly locals.
(b) That the place has unfair port fees and malaria.
(c) That snakes litter the area.
(d) That there are many poisonous fish in the water.

4. How do the ladies of Laredo react to the expedition party?
(a) The expedition party serves as a source of merriment to the local girls, and the older women cannot stop giggling.
(b) They immediately offer to serve as their housekeepers, promising good food all the time.
(c) They are offended that the expedition party is allowed to dock in Laredo.
(d) They sell many of their beadworks, telling them that the beads are rare and can only be found in Laredo.

5. How does the author describe the call of the doves?
(a) Seeming to use a great longing and sadness from its listener.
(b) Boring, and does not instill any feeling at all.
(c) Creepy, making one feel as if he is in a graveyard late at night.
(d) Inspiring, making man want to write a poem about them.

6. How does the expedition party feel about Puerto Refugio?
(a) They cannot get out of Puerto Refugio fast enough.
(b) They want to settle in Puerto Refugio.
(c) They want to skip going to Puerto Refugio.
(d) They wish that they can return someday to Puerto Refugio to explore it further.

7. What little surprise does the crew find in the seemingly uninteresting beach?
(a) A group of rattlesnakes which follow them wherever they go.
(b) A large treasure chest that contains jewels.
(c) A large school of tiny fish comes in and make a hissing noise in the water all around them.
(d) A treasure map buried in the sand, which indicates that a treasure can be found in the Sea of Cortez.

8. What does the expedition party do in the morning of March 30?
(a) The party refuels and buys supplies.
(b) The party cleans all the kitchen dirt left the night before.
(c) The party begins preparing for their journey back home.
(d) The party begins collecting because the tide is out.

9. What does the expedition party encounter as they sail along the coast of Guardian Angel Island?
(a) A school of small fish which they catch and cook for dinner.
(b) Schools of jellyfishes that cannot be easily netted or preserved.
(c) A group of sea turtles swimming against the tide.
(d) Another boat that is returning to land.

10. Which statement best describes Puerto Escondido?
(a) It is a beautiful mangrove-ringed lagoon with an interior channel to the town.
(b) It is a bustling community where kids play along the shore and housewives cooked food all day.
(c) It is a small town most visited by scientists such as Darwin.
(d) It is a small isalnd where sea vessels can moor while refuelling.

11. Why does everyone decide to put Tex on a diet?
(a) Because he eats all the food in the journey, and there is not enough for the whole crew.
(b) Because he is getting married when they return, and he has been gaining weight on the voyage.
(c) Because he has eaten the most in the last four weeks of the voyage.
(d) Because he has not been doing his share of chores.

12. Why does the crew forego stopping at Santa Rosalia?
(a) They are already pressed for time.
(b) There are several unfriendly locals in Santa Rosalia.
(c) Santa Rosalia asks for very steep visitors' taxes.
(d) There is not much to see in Santa Rosalia.

13. What does Sparky collect to give to his friends back at home?
(a) Very beautiful snail shells.
(b) Very beautiful oyster pearls.
(c) Very beautiful sand dollars.
(d) Very beautiful starfish.

14. What does the expedition party see towards the end of April 22 as they sail south?
(a) A group of artists with long hair and tattoos.
(b) Fishing boats from the town of Guaymas.
(c) Kids and mothers going to school.
(d) Several dolphins and whales.

15. How does the author describe the Mexicans and Americans that they meet in Angeles Bay?
(a) They are easily identifiable from the tattoo that they have on their arm.
(b) They all wear straw hats and Hawaiian shirts.
(c) They claim to be friends of Tiny and Sparky and insisted on joining them.
(d) They claim to be fishing but seem overly interested in what the expedition is doing and when they are leaving.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Puerto Refugio located?

2. What statement does Steinbeck give about the war to illustrate his thinking about the human race?

3. Why does everyone feel a bit gloomy on their return to the Gulf?

4. Where does the boat sail next on March 30 after collecting freshwater species?

5. How many of these sea creatures that interest him does Tiny catch?

(see the answer keys)

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