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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 Callahan lose as the raft begins to swirl around in a circle as he is attempting to navigate?

2. Which of the tubes in the life raft begins to deflate as a result of the fish's actions on the side of the boat?

3. What is the name of the man who offers to let Callahan stay in his hotel while he rests and decides what to do next?

4. Once the temperatures have turned warm, Callahan has no more fears of ___________ taking hold at night.

5. What does Callahan fear what he will land against when he is finally at the shoreline and near land?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is becoming harder for Callahan to complete after he has fixed the breach in the boat?

2. What was the warning that Callahan's ex-wife had given him, which Callahan now recalls?

3. How had the fishermen come to find Callahan's boat in the water?

4. What is the relationship that Callahan suddenly imagines with the dorado fish as they move past his boat?

5. What does Callahan do to protect himself from a harsh landing on the rocky shore?

6. What does Callahan do when he realizes that he may be about two weeks from land?

7. What are the three parts in which Callahan decides his mind has been split into as a result of this trip on the sea?

8. Who does Callahan suddenly imagine as his crew when he begins to see that fish is not going to sate him anymore?

9. What happens to the boat as a result of the fish fighting with Callahan during his attempts to catch it?

10. How does Callahan finally fix the hole that has been ruining the solar still that he tries to use?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Callahan decides that he needs to push doubt out of his mind if he wants to survive.

Part 1: What are the reasons that Callahan should continue to be hopeful on his journey?

Part 2: What are the reasons Callahan has for feeling despair and doubt?

Part 3: What are the benefits of pushing doubt from your mind during difficult situations?

Essay Topic 2

From the beginning, it seems that Callahan did not anticipate his boat capsizing, as all of his supplies were stored in the lower parts of the boat, out of reach.

Part 1: Do you think that Callahan was well prepared for his trans-Atlantic journey?

Part 2: How else do you think Callahan could have prepared for the journey across the ocean?

Part 3: Do you think it's better to prepare for the worst or assume everything will work out well?

Essay Topic 3

Callahan sleeps on the boat, which makes sense, but to readers who are not familiar with sailing, that might seem strange.

Part 1: Do you think you could sleep while sailing a boat?

Part 2: Why do you think Callahan is able to close his eyes and sleep without any troubles?

Part 3: How do you think you would feel more comfortable sleeping on a boat?

(see the answer keys)

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