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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. A lunar eclipse would be occurring on July _______ that year.

2. In most cases, white sharks dislike the taste of humans and do what?

3. How was Fisher able to fight against the shark?

4. He was finally able to get away from it and was carrying what was left of Lester to the shore when what happened?

5. The US Bureau of ______________ declared that people should not be deterred from going into the waters since "sharks were not vicious" (p. 82). Sharks were deemed to be less a threat to man than horses and dogs.

Short Essay Questions

1. What was done to try to catch the shark? Why did people react this way?

2. What did Fisher set up in the creek? Why did he do this?

3. What had occurred by July 9th? Why?

4. Describe the health of the average great white. How does this compare to the juvenile shark that attacked in 1916?

5. What led the shark to Matawan?

6. What did Coppleson think of the shark attacks of 1916? How does this compare to other beliefs at the time and beliefs today?

7. Describe what took place on July 7, 1916.

8. What might have caused the shark to head north?

9. What did Lucas and others think about the idea of man-eating sharks? How did they support this belief?

10. What is a rogue shark? How did this term come about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the attacks described in this book ended in death.

Part 1) Describe these attacks. When did they occur? Where did they occur? Why did they occur? What happened to those who were attacked? Why did the shark attack them in this way?

Part 2) Are shark attacks as deadly today as they were in 1916? Why or why not? Is there anything one can do if he or she is attacked by a shark? If so, what? If not, why not?

Part 3) Is swimming worth the risk of a shark attack? Why or why not? How have the descriptions of these attacks affected your opinion of sharks and swimming in the ocean?

Essay Topic 2

The shark was put on display.

Part 1) Why was the shark put on display? Should it have been put on display? Why or why not? How else has the story of this man-eating shark been sensationalized and dramatized?

Part 2) Are animal attacks typical news stories? Why did this shark become so famous? Why were so many people drawn to the story of this shark? What does this reveal about human nature?

Part 3) Would a story such as this be as exciting today? Would news coverage be as spectacular? Why or why not? Might it be more spectacular? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Human-like bones were found in the belly of the shark.

Part 1) Describe the catching of the shark. How did it finally die? Could the shark have been killed if it had been full-grown or healthy? Why or why not? What does this reinforce about the power of sharks?

Part 2) What was found in the belly of the shark? Were the bones definitively found to be human remains? Why or why not? How might an investigation such as this have been different today? Why?

Part 3) Was there adequate proof that this was the shark that attacked and killed so many people? Why or why not? Do you believe the same shark attacked and/or killed all these people? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,292 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample