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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Quoyle get to do the special column on The Shipping News?
(a) No-one else is willing to do it.
(b) He is at last able to write good copy.
(c) People loved his story on the Tough Baby.
(d) He does it for a dare.

2. What creature does Quoyle see when he is clearing trash?
(a) A moose.
(b) A Southern Right whale.
(c) A Minke whale.
(d) An albatross.

3. What is The Gammy Bird?
(a) A species of gannet.
(b) The name of a motel.
(c) The name of a newspaper.
(d) The name of a boat.

4. What was unusual about the Net-Man?
(a) These rocks seemed to attract nets and other lost material.
(b) It was supposed to be cursed.
(c) It was a rock in the shape of a fisherman.
(d) This was a series of rocks that imprisoned fish, like a net.

5. What is a clove hitch?
(a) An old-fashioned way of pulling teeth.
(b) A Canadian hitch-hiker.
(c) A type of knot.
(d) A spice used in French-Canadian cooking.

6. Petal tells Mrs Moosup she will leave the little girls in . . .
(a) Florida
(b) Connecticut
(c) Moose Lake
(d) Killick-Claw

7. How does Agnis describe berrying?
(a) As a damned nuisance.
(b) As tedious and boring.
(c) As pleasure to all.
(d) As a good way to find a husband.

8. When was Mavis Bangs first married?
(a) At twenty-two.
(b) At eighteen.
(c) At fifteen.
(d) At forty.

9. The shag is an alternative word for which bird?
(a) The puffin.
(b) The Mother Carey's chicken.
(c) The cormorant.
(d) The albatross.

10. What is the distinctive feature of the Quoyle house?
(a) An odd roof-line.
(b) A window flanked by two smaller ones.
(c) The carving on the gables.
(d) It's painted bright green.

11. What is the subject of the story Quoyle tells his daughters?
(a) A moose.
(b) A sad dog.
(c) Baby penguins.
(d) Seals.

12. In what way does Quoyle benefit from Petal's death?
(a) He has sole care of the children and he has Petal's insurance money.
(b) He gets to keep the car.
(c) He has Petal's insurance money and a house in Florida.
(d) Her insurance money makes him a millionaire.

13. What is a synonym for 'mortification'?
(a) Death.
(b) Embarrassment.
(c) Locking in with a mortice.
(d) Transfiguration.

14. What are the Tea Buns?
(a) Submerged rocks.
(b) A special cake served in England.
(c) A local word for migrating gannets.
(d) Aunt Agnis's rock cakes.

15. Where is the Melvilles' home?
(a) Toronto.
(b) London.
(c) Killick-Claw.
(d) Long Island.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the man in the dory doing?

2. What complicates the family's stay at the motel?

3. How does Quoyle get the list of ships?

4. What does Wavey notice in Archie Sparks' yard?

5. What is described as a 'gelatinous horror'?

(see the answer keys)

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