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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 does the expedition party catch in Concepcion Bay?
(a) Jellyfish.
(b) Tuna.
(c) Sea anemone.
(d) Swordfish.

2. How does Tiny spend his time on the island of Tiburon?
(a) Labeling and sorting the specimens collected by the other crew members.
(b) Cleaning the outboard motor to ensure better performance in the next run.
(c) Taking the skiff to the little inlets to harpoon stingrays.
(d) Cooking meals for the other members of the expedition.

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

4. 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 in some cultures, cannibalism is accepted and therefore they should consider doing it as well.
(c) That cannibalism is overrated, and he has in fact once tried eating another human being.
(d) That if they stay at sea for another four weeks they might end up eating each other.

5. How is the team's photography effort described in general?
(a) There is nothing mentioned about the team's photography efforts.
(b) It is so remarkable that it is cited as an example of what expeditions should follow during voyages.
(c) It is neither remarkably good or remarkably bad.
(d) It is so poor that it is used as an example of what shouldn't be done with a camera.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the expedition party sail next on Easter Sunday?

2. What observations does Steinbeck note as the party sails on to the Sea of Cortez?

3. How is Guaymas different from the other towns they have been in?

4. What does Steinbeck lament about that is in connection with persistence of beliefs and actual happenings?

5. What does the expedition party hear about Mulege which make it an undesirable destination?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. 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?

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

6. Describe the expedition party's experience with their camera equipment. What happens with the equipment and what resolutions are derived from their experience?

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

8. Describe the strange experience the group has with the Americans and the Mexicans they encounter in Angeles Bay.

9. 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?

10. 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.

(see the answer keys)

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