Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What do the Mexican officials do with the expedition party?
2. What is Steinbeck's observation of the Indians at Espiritu Santo Island?
3. What is interesting about the bonito and other fish that caught Steinbeck and Ricketts' attention?
4. What do Steinbeck and Ricketts encounter when they go for a walk in the dark?
5. Where does the expedition party go on the morning of March 23, Black Saturday?
Short Essay Questions
1. What are the recordings in The Log from the Sea of Cortez? Enumerate as many as you can.
2. What difference does this particular expedition have over the other travels? Why is this so?
3. The expedition party reaches the town of San Lucas. Describe the town as mentioned by Steinbeck, and add your own theories on how the town looks and feels like.
4. What is Steinbeck's theory on the origin of the name of a certain place? What was the origin of Steinbeck's musings?
5. How does Steinbeck compare staying on course at sea to achieving a goal in life?
6. What observation does Steinbeck make regarding boats and their owners? Cite a particular example of this observation.
7. Build on Steinbeck's theory of why the expedition members do not want to catch and cook porpoises.
8. Tiny and Sparky are described as almost two halves of one person. Make some speculations on their appearance and characters in general.
9. 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?
10. What are Steinbeck's thoughts on his expedition compared to those of Charles Darwin? What are the similarities and differences?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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 2
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.
Essay Topic 3
The story ends with the Western Flyer heading back to its point of origin. Steinbeck notes that they do not fully understand everything that they have experienced, and will surely take time for them to do so. Explain what Steinbeck means with this statement. What does he mean when he says "new way of thinking, living and being"?
|
This section contains 1,423 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
