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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Tony berates Tiny and Sparky?
(a) Tiny and Sparky eat all the food while everybody is asleep.
(b) The boat goes off-course while Tiny and Sparky are at the helm, causing Tony to berate them.
(c) Because Tiny and Sparky accidentally drop some oil into Tony's shirt.
(d) Tony suddenly flares for no apparent reason.

2. What topic does Steinbeck discuss with the team members as they sail along the coast of Guardian Angel Island?
(a) The Harpal Indians, which are rumored to be cannibals.
(b) The Adamski Indians, which are rumored to be cannibals.
(c) The Seri Indians, which are rumored to be cannibals.
(d) The Farai Indians, which are rumored to be cannibals.

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

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

5. Where in Puerto Refugio does the expedition party collect specimens?
(a) They took a small boat to go to the island near Puerto Refugio.
(b) They go to the edge of Puerto Refugio and wait for the tide to go down before collecting specimens.
(c) They find an area with abundant tidepools and this is where they collect specimens.
(d) They do not find any place to collect anything from.

6. What does Sparky accidentally do on April 3?
(a) He harpoons a dog.
(b) He harpoons a bat.
(c) He harpoons a cat.
(d) He harpoons a stingray.

7. On March 31, almost three weeks ate sea, what observation does Steinbeck make regarding the collections they have acquired so far?
(a) Steinbeck notes that they are more interested in the common species rather than the rare species.
(b) Steinbeck observes that they have collected close to a ton of species and they cannot take it all home because it was just too much weight for the boat to take.
(c) Steinbeck notes that they have amassed a significant collection, which will fetch good prices at the markets.
(d) Steinbeck notes that their collection is as varied the crew's personalities.

8. What is the best description for Angeles Bay?
(a) It is where several expedition parties meet up and exchange information.
(b) It is the last collecting stop of the expedition on the west side of the Gulf.
(c) It is the last place where expedition party members can grab a few drinks before getting back to the boat.
(d) It is a trading town where goods can be exchanged, sold and bought.

9. How many of these sea creatures that interest him does Tiny catch?
(a) One.
(b) Two.
(c) Three.
(d) None.

10. What does Steinbeck lament about that is in connection with persistence of beliefs and actual happenings?
(a) That actual happenings are actually the basis of many persistent beliefs.
(b) That actual happenings are always distorted to give way to more controversial beliefs.
(c) That persistence of beliefs can actually lead to actual happenings.
(d) That a good hypothesis can blind a person to alternative theories and even to actual data that could disprove it.

11. Where does the boat sail next on March 30 after collecting freshwater species?
(a) San Diego Bay.
(b) San Carlos Bay.
(c) Magdalena Bay.
(d) El Pueblo Bay.

12. What particular sea creature interests Tiny on their way to Estero de la Luna?
(a) Giant porpoises.
(b) Giant sea horses.
(c) Giant sea turtles.
(d) Giant manta rays.

13. How can the crew's dining activities be best described?
(a) The party is eating mostly fish and biscuits, except when Sparky makes spaghetti.
(b) They eat rice and soup, which Sparky makes from the seaweed they have collected.
(c) They eat sandwiches day and night, and coffee to go with it.
(d) They refrain from eating fish since it reminds them too much of the species they have collected.

14. How does the expedition party scare the shark that was circling their their boat?
(a) They scare it by throwing some soiled shirts to the sea.
(b) They scare it by playing loud music.
(c) They scare it with a pistol shot.
(d) They scare it by throwing sticks at it.

15. Why is the crew unable to collect many specimens on the day following Easter Sunday?
(a) Because the locals will not allow them to take anything from their ocean.
(b) Because the local police arrest Tex for not wearing a t-shirt all the time.
(c) Because Steinbeck and Ricketts get into a fight, making it too awkward to do any collection.
(d) Because the tide does not go very low, making it difficult to collect species in general.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What is the most important gift that the Sea of Cortez gives the expedition party, according to Steinbeck?

3. What specific food does the crew fight about, leading them to decide to stop making it?

4. What remark does Steinbeck makes about cannibalism?

5. Why does the crew forego stopping at Santa Rosalia?

(see the answer keys)

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