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

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

3. What remark does Steinbeck makes about cannibalism?
(a) That if other societal restrictions were removed, man might easily overcome any objection towards cannibalism.
(b) That if they stay at sea for another four weeks they might end up eating each other.
(c) That in some cultures, cannibalism is accepted and therefore they should consider doing it as well.
(d) That cannibalism is overrated, and he has in fact once tried eating another human being.

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

5. 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 treasure map buried in the sand, which indicates that a treasure can be found in the Sea of Cortez.
(c) A large school of tiny fish comes in and make a hissing noise in the water all around them.
(d) A large treasure chest that contains jewels.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. After facing difficulties collecting specimens, what do Steinbeck and Ricketts do instead on Easter Sunday ?

3. What does the expedition party catch in Concepcion Bay?

4. What are the freshwater species that are eaten locally, and collected by the expedition party on March 30?

5. How does the author describe the call of the doves?

Short Essay Questions

1. Steinbeck and Ricketts willingly accept the offer to go on a big sheep-hunting expedition even though it is apparent that they do not have the desires to hunt any creature. Give a probable explanation as to why the two readily agreed to the invitation in the first place.

2. How do the members of the expedition party pass the night of March 29? What discussions are happening and what are the revelations of this night?

3. 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.

4. Discuss Steinbeck's theory on how societal restrictions dictate what is acceptable behavior and what is not. What introduced this discussion?

5. 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?

6. 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.

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

8. Briefly explain Steinbeck's feelings towards the whole expedition. Does he feel that the expedition has taught them anything, and is there any particular valuable lesson they have acquired from the trip, apart from scientific learnings?

9. Describe Guardian Angel Island and how the crew takes to it. What were the feelings of the crew while they were on the island?

10. Describe Steinbeck and Ricketts' encounter with the ranchers and vacationers, and their consequent big sheep-hunting expedition.

(see the answer keys)

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