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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. How does Tex see diesel engines?
(a) As toys which can be experimentes on.
(b) As abhorring inventions.
(c) As pure, logical, perfect mechanical entities.
(d) As expensive vessels not fit for sea travel.

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

3. What is the concept explored by the author in the section that pertains to boats and men?
(a) The way men choose their boats, their colors, and the length.
(b) The way men treat their boats like they treat their wives.
(c) The personification of a boat by a man and the identification of men with their boats.
(d) How men become unreasonable when it comes to their boats.

4. 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.

5. What happens to the outboard motor on Black Saturday, March 23?
(a) It falls apart and refused to run again.
(b) It chug-chugs noisily before breaking apart.
(c) It does not help them approach the island.
(d) It was stuck by some piece of shirt and can no longer be used.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Tex?

2. What does Steinbeck say about the authors of the descriptions written about Cabo San Lucas?

3. What is a Sally Lightfoot crab?

4. Who is the captain of the ship for the expedition?

5. What is unique about the expedition described in the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some examples of Steinbeck's personification of marine life?

2. 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.

3. Briefly discuss how Tony's personality is impressed upon the team members as they take turns manning the wheel.

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

5. Describe Steinbeck's theory on aphrodisiacs and how he encounters some in Cabo San Lucas.

6. 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.

7. Briefly explain Steinbeck's theory on "murdering" a boat.

8. What observation does Steinbeck make regarding boats and their owners? Cite a particular example of this observation.

9. Steinbeck hints at Tiny's stories of his past as being too racy to be repeated in the book. Speculate on Tiny's past. What could his stories be about and why can't it be repeated in the book?

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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