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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How much does the huge whale that appears off the port bow in Chapter 5 weigh?
(a) Fifty tons.
(b) Sixty tons.
(c) Seventy tons.
(d) Eighty tons.

2. How many miles does it take the crew to set and trim the sails of the Essex?
(a) More than ten.
(b) More than eleven.
(c) Less than nine.
(d) More than nine.

3. How far have the men rescued by the Dauphin been sailing at the end of the Preface?
(a) Thirty- five hundred nautical miles.
(b) Fifty- five hundred nautical miles.
(c) Forty- five hundred nautical miles.
(d) Twenty- five hundred nautical miles.

4. How many people live in Nantucket in 1819?
(a) Eight thousand people.
(b) Seven thousand people.
(c) Six thousand people.
(d) Five thousand people.

5. How long is it in between whale sightings in Chapter 3?
(a) Several months.
(b) Several hours.
(c) Several days.
(d) Several weeks.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the crew hoping for as they enter the Offshore Grounds?

2. How long does it take the whale to revive after the collision before preparing to ram the boat again?

3. Which weapon does Pollard choose to keep for himself as Chapter 6 ends?

4. What is causing the thirst of the men on Chase's boat to become even worse in Chapter 7?

5. What is the name given to the event of a harpooned whale dragging a boat at high speeds?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Essex attacked by the whale and what happens to the ship as a result?

2. What happens when the first whale of the trip is sighted?

3. What modifications are made to the whale boats in the beginning of Chapter 6?

4. What are the first difficulties that the Essex experiences at the end of Chapter 2?

5. What does the Dauphin find in the Preface?

6. What happens when the Essex tries to leave Nantucket?

7. How does Philbrick describe Pollard and his experience in Chapter 2?

8. What happens when the Essex meets the Aurora?

9. As stated in the Preface, when, where, and why are sperm whales hunted?

10. How is a whale killed by sailors?

(see the answer keys)

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