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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What can be seen in Cabo San Lucas?
(a) A monastery with several nuns planting corn.
(b) An amusement park with rides and games, children and adults alike enjoy the park.
(c) A cannery along with a few houses on shore, and a rocky ridge that extends from the muntain into the ocean.
(d) A school for teenagers who want to be marines and navy in the future.

2. What is the greater purpose for which the author wants to use his observations of the activities of the biological creatures?
(a) To improve the laws and regulations regarding sea expeditions.
(b) To understand and improve the human species.
(c) To improve the way people look at biological creatures.
(d) To increase the public's awareness on marine life in Mexico.

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

4. What does the author describe in the story, particularly at the beginning of the book?
(a) The difficulties associated with in planning and preparing for an expedition, as well as the difficulty of finding a good vessel and captain.
(b) The major characters of the story, their educational backgrounds, and their family tree.
(c) The famous sea expeditions in the past, and how long each expedition lasted.
(d) He describes Mexico in great detail, including the politics and legislations of the land.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What is the author's description of Espiritu Santo Island?

3. What does Steinbeck think about the various descriptions they have read of Cabo San Lucas?

4. What happens to the porpoises, as observed by Steinbeck and Ricketts?

5. Who are the major characters and the expedition team leaders in the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe San Jose Island and how it appears to the expedition party. Give an explanation to the things that the party see when they try to go ashore in the island.

2. What are the recordings in The Log from the Sea of Cortez? Enumerate as many as you can.

3. What are Steinbeck's thoughts on his expedition compared to those of Charles Darwin? What are the similarities and differences?

4. The expedition party reaches the town of San Lucas. Describe the town as mentioned by Steinbeck, and add your own theories on how the town looks and feels like.

5. Briefly discuss the group's encounter when they try to have chicken for dinner. Can you give some rationale to the efforts the group went through just to have chicken for dinner?

6. How does Steinbeck compare staying on course at sea to achieving a goal in life?

7. Steinbeck notices two men and a woman in Cabo San Lucas, paddling their canoe to the boat to do a little talking. He remarks that the indigenous people's sense of time is different from theirs. Describe the group that Steinbeck encounters, and what about their appearance invites such remarks from Steinbeck?

8. Briefly discuss Steinbeck and Ricketts' interaction with a boy named Raul and give possible reasons why they willingly went with him.

9. Briefly state the discussions made by Steinbeck and Ricketts on different ways of thinking, particularly looking at the society and the balance that is maintained all the time, as specified by their given example on employment.

10. Briefly discuss Steinbeck's theory on the complications of western systems compared to the simplicity of some other cultures, such as the Indians'.

(see the answer keys)

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