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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. Who represents the East India Company in Calcutta?

2. What is Aubrey's reaction to Stanhope's demise?

3. What woman does Maturin visit in Calcutta?

4. Which enemy ship does Aubrey think equals in battle to the H.M.S. Surprise?

5. What is the rumor in Bombay about the position of the French Armada?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Maturin's recovery of health surprising in chapter six?

2. How does Stanhope's ill health finally affect Aubrey and his crew?

3. How are Aubrey and Maturin's lives complicated by women in chapter seven?

4. How does the East India Company reward Aubrey and the the East India Company?

5. Why might Pullings be disappointed with the actions of Mr. Hervey's uncle while the H.M.S. Surprise is anchored at Bombay?

6. Is there any point in the long voyage when the people on board are in grave danger?

7. What ruse is used to fool the French armada about the strength of the China fleet?

8. How effective is Maturin's solution for Stanhope's health after the convulsing?

9. What details about Diana's life in chapter seven suggest her morality might be questionable?

10. Both Aubrey and Maturin entertain their shipmate's with stories and knowledge of sailing. Which man is more credible?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do letters advance the plot of the novel? Think about letters written by any of the major characters. What kind of information does the author give the reader through letters? Are the letters an effective means of moving the plot?

Essay Topic 2

The H.M.S. Surprise by Patrick O'Brian is set in history over 200 years ago. Do you think the story can be told as well if set in today's society? What major changes can be made? How might the morality of society and the characters be different?

Essay Topic 3

A novel may have more than one theme, but each theme includes a subject and a verb. To say the theme of a poem is war, for instance, is incomplete. More appropriate would be to say the theme is that war is futile. Discuss a major theme in the novel H.M.S. Surprise. Explain why you believe it is a major theme and use evidence from the book to support your point.

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