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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 Steinbeck see the history of the human race?
(a) It is totally unpredictable and without pattern.
(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 a series of bursts of nervous energy.

2. Why does the party chose not to dock in Guaymas and instead anchor in a nearby bay?
(a) They do not want the town to know that they have arrived.
(b) They see more marine life in the nearby bay than in Guaymas.
(c) The port fees are high because it is late in the night and they do not want to pay the fees.
(d) They are suspicious of a man they see walking along the port.

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

4. Which statement best describes the marine life in Puerto Escondido?
(a) The marine life is greatly preserved by the locals, as shown from many posters seen around town.
(b) The number of specimens are increased due to the wide variety of habitats and niches in the entrance of the bay.
(c) The number of specimens are reduced because the tide carries them all out of the island.
(d) There is no marine life to speak of.

5. Where does the expedition party sail next on Easter Sunday?
(a) They return to Magdalene Bay because tex forgot the collections he had.
(b) They finally sail to Cortez, Mexico.
(c) They leave La Paz and sail north to Tribecca.
(d) Out of the lagoon and to the next collecting stop south of Marcial Point.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the author describe the Mexicans and Americans that they meet in Angeles Bay?

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

3. How can the crew's dining activities be best described?

4. When the sea is very smooth, what does the crew do to take advantage of the calm seas?

5. On Easter Sunday, despite facing difficulties collecting specimens, Steinbeck and Ricketts are able to catch a significant marine life - what is it?

Short Essay Questions

1. Provide a description to how Steinbeck, Ricketts and the crew do the labeling and sorting of their collected specimen.

2. Discuss Steinbeck's lamentations on the briefness of their expedition, and how he wished that they have brought full-sized aquariums.

3. Discuss the theories and examples presented by members of the expedition team on how persistence of beliefs of mind can overcome actual reality.

4. At the port city of Laredo, the members of the expedition team serve as merriment to the local girls. Speculate on the reasons on why this is so and give probable explanations to this happening.

5. Describe the profile of the specimens the expedition party collects. Provide details about the group's interest in all of these specimens, as explained by Steinbeck himself.

6. In Marcial Point around noon on Easter Sunday, Steinbeck and Ricketts manage to catch a big, beautiful lobster despite the difficulties they have encountered. How do you think Steinbeck and Ricketts managed to catch this lobster? Speculate on the efforts of the team.

7. Santa Rosalia is described as much different from the other towns they have seen. What could have been in Santa Rosalia that makes it so different from the others?

8. What does the expedition party encounter at the port of Guaymas? Explain their reactions to the situation.

9. Briefly explain Steinbeck's thoughts about a place being friendly or unfriendly. What instances led him to these thoughts?

10. Near Guaymas, the crew feel a little contempt over the fact that the fishermen they see are too spotless in their white outfits. Explain briefly the circumstances and why the crew feel such contempt.

(see the answer keys)

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