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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. What does the log entry of March 12 say?

2. Where is the expedition party heading?

3. What is the concept explored by the author in the section that pertains to boats and men?

4. What do Steinbeck and Ricketts do on Easter Sunday?

5. What does Steinbeck think about the various descriptions they have read of Cabo San Lucas?

Short Essay Questions

1. What difference does this particular expedition have over the other travels? Why is this so?

2. Explain Steinbeck's remark on the contrast between Tiny's reaction to the death of the sea turtle and that of a scientist's.

3. Tiny and Sparky are described as almost two halves of one person. Make some speculations on their appearance and characters in general.

4. Build on Steinbeck's theory of why the expedition members do not want to catch and cook porpoises.

5. Briefly discuss Steinbeck's theory on the complications of western systems compared to the simplicity of some other cultures, such as the Indians'.

6. Describe Tony and make some assumptions on the way he looks.

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

8. Steinbeck notices two men and a woman in Cabo San Lucas, paddling their canoe to the boat to do a little talking. He remarks that the indigenous people's sense of time is different from theirs. Describe the group that Steinbeck encounters, and what about their appearance invites such remarks from Steinbeck?

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. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Steinbeck frequently relates marine organisms to men and vice versa, and thinks of both as equally representative of a larger pattern. Do you support Steinbeck's thinking that they both represent a larger pattern? What pattern could this be? Support your answers with specific instances from the story, if not about men then about marine organisms.

Essay Topic 2

Steinbeck uses many graphic comparisons in the book, such as the personification of a boat by man, the personification of the marine life, among others. Do you agree with Steinbeck's analogy? Why or why not? What other analogies can be used to describe the author's many observations in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the difficulties encountered by the expedition party when it comes to getting permits, approvals and permissions. What could have been done to prevent these difficulties? Do you think the book's objectives should also include discussions, narratives on these issues? Are the difficulties related to the fact that there was a war going on? Why or why not? Support your answer with specific examples in the book.

(see the answer keys)

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