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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 attacks the Sea Rover in Chapter 26?

2. What injury does Sarah sustain in the car chase and subsequent wreck?

3. How do Kang and his men plan to sink the Sea Rover?

4. How does Gunn know the Sea Rover has disappeared?

5. Who is Raul Biazon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Dirk and Dahlgren discover about the I-403 in Chapter 9?

2. Where was it supposed that stocks of smallpox virus were stored, as cited in Chapter 15?

3. Describe how Dirk and Summer escape from the I-411 in Chapter 25.

4. Why do Sarah and the other scientists survive the same toxin that killed the two meteorologists in Chapter 1?

5. Describe what happens as the Sea Rover is being flooded in Chapter 28 and how the crew is rescued.

6. What will the disease-laden weapon that Kang plans to launch accomplish?

7. What is significant about the Chinese junk that rescues Dirk and Summer in Chapter 36?

8. Describe Kang's role as he is revealed in Chapter 14.

9. What is the mission of the Japanese Red Army?

10. Describe Admiral Sandecker and his role in Chapter 31.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are two obvious "male buddy" relationships found in Black Wind. One is the relationship between Dirk Sr. and Al; the other is between Dirk Jr. and Jack. Compare and contrast these two relationships. How are they similar? How are they different? Which is more convincing and realistic? Why does Cussler emphasize these kinds of relationships?

Essay Topic 2

Black Wind is full of novel gadgets, watercraft, aircraft, and other technological gizmos. Discuss how effective Cussler is in integrating technology into his novel, how much technology contributes to the overall plot, whether or not he gets bogged down in minutiae, and whether or not the reader feels that he/she needs a degree from M.I.T. to follow what is happening.

Essay Topic 3

Death comes frequently and casually to many of the characters in Black Wind. One might argue that Cussler takes death lightly. There are incidents of death occurring one on one (one person at the hands of another). Other deaths take place randomly. Still other deaths involve the killing of masses of people, often at the wishes of one person. Evaluate the reality of death in this book. Compare and contrast the different forms of death. Which seem more destructive? Which seem more "evil?" Which have the most impact on the reader? Explain your answers in some depth.

(see the answer keys)

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