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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 is Peter Freuchen?

2. A snake mackerel resembles what other sea creature?

3. What poisonous creatures battle in the bungalow?

4. Freuchen rejects new ideas in favor of tried and true equipment such as the:

5. The names of the trees are derived from people attached to which figure?

Short Essay Questions

1. Heyerdahl's financing falls through and the trip is in jeopardy. How is the trip saved?

2. What other story from Peruvian history mirrors that of the natives of the Pacific Islands?

3. What was the first observation that led Heyerdahl to develop the theory about the Pacific Islands?

4. What is the Guardian Rios? What is its purpose?

5. Why was the translator of little use to Heyerdahl and Watzinger? What was the result?

6. What unusual fish is observed from the raft? What becomes of the fish?

7. While aboard the Kon-Tiki, one of the crew members suffers from an ailment. What is the ailment? Which crew member suffers? What is done to help?

8. Why do the crew members establish rotating shifts? How is the plan organized?

9. What items did the first European explorers discover on the Pacific Islands?

10. What two things did the naval experts warn Heyerdahl about before the trip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Peruvian President Nieto is interested in learning more about the Kon-Tiki expedition which he had read about in the newspaper. While the president does not think that the trip will be a success, he is willing to help. Examine the President's thoughts, motives, and possible biases. Was the president willing to help for the benefit of science, for personal gain, or neither?

Essay Topic 2

Polynesians celebrate an oral history, told by Tei Tetua. Examine the tales told by Tei Tuta and how they affected Heyerdahl. Given the manner in which the stories were told, do you think they were accurate? Did the stories prove or disprove any of Heyerdahl's own theories? Were any of Tei Tetua's stories proven or disproved by the trip made by the Kon-Tiki?

Essay Topic 3

Much of the weather in the South Seas had gone unreported, often leaving the crew in the dark as to what to expect. Why is this true? Why was it important for the crew to report the weather? To who was the weather reported? What became of the information? How might it benefit future sailors?

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