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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Who is the captain of the ship for the expedition?
2. Where is Cabo San Lucas?
3. What does Tex find out about the skiff's outboard motor?
4. What is a Sally Lightfoot crab?
5. What is Steinbeck's thesis about origins of names of places, specifically California?
Short Essay Questions
1. Describe Tiny's encounter with a sea turtle.
2. 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?
3. Briefly discuss Steinbeck's theory on the complications of western systems compared to the simplicity of some other cultures, such as the Indians'.
4. What difference does this particular expedition have over the other travels? Why is this so?
5. 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.
6. Briefly explain Steinbeck's theory on "murdering" a boat.
7. Build on Steinbeck's theory of why the expedition members do not want to catch and cook porpoises.
8. Describe the Sea-Cow and how did it get its name? How does the expedition party relate to it? Does the expedition party treat the Sea-Cow fairly?
9. What is Steinbeck's theory on the origin of the name of a certain place? What was the origin of Steinbeck's musings?
10. Briefly discuss Steinbeck and Ricketts' interaction with a boy named Raul and give possible reasons why they willingly went with him.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Steinbeck spends some time wondering whether man's defining trait is hope, that is, hope that the future will be better than today. Do you believe or disagree with Steinbeck's hope, and will his wish happen? What are some instances in the book which illustrates this hope? Similarly, are there instances in the story which seem to illustrate the exact opposite of Steinbeck's hope?
Essay Topic 2
Tex loves diesel engines and sees them as pure, logical, perfect mechanical entities. Is this love for diesel engines what made Tex become a mechanic or did Tex get to love diesel engines after being a mechanic and being exposed to them? Whether it is the former or the latter, what does this say about Tex? If it is the former, is Tex then a dreamer/romantic who pursues his ideals from his childhood? Or if it is the latter, is Tex then a logical person who sees the value in things and appreciates these values? How are these traits exhibited in the story? Whatever your answers are, please support them with instances in the story.
Essay Topic 3
There are many times in the book when members of the expedition party attempt to catch some sea creatures, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. What are the reasons why members of the expedition party want to catch fish? Is it just for food, or is it for fun? Or is it something else like proving their masculinity or superiority over other men? Support your answer with specific instances from the story.
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This section contains 1,467 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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