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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What positions do Davidge and West hold on the Surprise?
(a) 1st and 3rd mates.
(b) 2nd and 3rd mates.
(c) 3rd mate and steward.
(d) 2nd mate and steward.

2. What does the Éclair want with the Surprise?
(a) To deliver several new crew members.
(b) To search for stowaways.
(c) To bring a new commander and take Aubrey to his new ship assignment.
(d) To deliver mail and new orders.

3. Where is Clarissa Oakes?
(a) In Java.
(b) In Port Jackson.
(c) In Port-au-Prince.
(d) On board Aubrey's vessel.

4. What are Aubrey and Maturin doing as they sail?
(a) Playing whist.
(b) Discussing the war.
(c) Reading their letters from home.
(d) Playing chess.

5. What does the crew catch?
(a) A small grey whale.
(b) A dolphin.
(c) A swordfish.
(d) A great white shark.

6. What do Maturin and Aubrey agree on about Clarissa?
(a) She is strikingly beautiful.
(b) She is rather quiet.
(c) She is rather coarse.
(d) She is no great beauty.

7. Who does Aubrey send out to scout?
(a) Bonden.
(b) Maturin.
(c) Pullings.
(d) Oakes.

8. How does Aubrey occupy his time when not commanding the ship?
(a) Playing bridge with Maturin.
(b) Writing his wife long letters.
(c) Teaching some of the junior officers.
(d) Sorting through his estate papers.

9. Who starts visiting Maturin?
(a) Pullings.
(b) Clarissa.
(c) Davidge.
(d) Oakes.

10. For what will they use the harpooned creature?
(a) Bait to catch more fish.
(b) A wedding dinner for Oakes and Clarissa.
(c) To stuff as a trophy on the outer bulkhead.
(d) To sell at the next port for fresh fruit.

11. Who performs the marriage ceremony between Oakes and Clarissa?
(a) The first mate who happens to also be a preacher.
(b) Aubrey.
(c) Reverend Nathaniel Martin.
(d) Maturin.

12. What happens between Davidge and West?
(a) A division.
(b) An agreement to invest together in a farm when they return to England.
(c) Nothing.
(d) A discovery.

13. What do Aubrey and the crew do every morning?
(a) Check the cannonades.
(b) Have an officer's meeting and an enlisted men's meeting.
(c) Look over the rigging carefully.
(d) Flood the ballast and pump out the seawater.

14. What does Surprise cross at the opening to Chapter 3?
(a) The Mediterrean Sea.
(b) The equator.
(c) The Indian Ocean.
(d) The Glassy Sea.

15. What does Aubrey decide about Oakes and Clarissa?
(a) They will be put in the brig in separate cells.
(b) They will be hanged.
(c) They will be put in a small boat with provisions.
(d) They will not be put ashore at this time.

Short Answer Questions

1. What color is the bolt of silk which Aubrey has?

2. What does Aubrey do before breakfast?

3. What is the approximate date at the opening of the novel?

4. What is Aubrey doing as he is standing on the quarterdeck?

5. Who harpoons the creature?

(see the answer keys)

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