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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where does Ishmael say the brain of the sperm whale lies?
(a) directly between the eyes.
(b) near the front of the head.
(c) in its hump.
(d) far back from the forehead.

2. To what does Ishmael attribute the Sag Harbor man's disbelief in the story of Jonah?
(a) his personal experience inside a whale.
(b) his custom of arguing with everyone.
(c) his minute education and inability to reason.
(d) his listening to too many doubters.

3. What does Pip do when a whale is harpooned?
(a) he hides in the bottom of the boat.
(b) he hits the whale with his oar.
(c) he starts to cry.
(d) he jumps into the ocean.

4. What is the first thing Moby Dick does when he is spotted?
(a) he flukes and dives deep.
(b) he swims toward the Pequod.
(c) he swims away fast on the surface.
(d) he sounds and disappears under the sea.

5. What makes Starbuck come and talk to Ahab.
(a) he witnesses the unexpected show of emotion by Ahab.
(b) he regrets his desire to kill Ahab.
(c) he decides to try one more time to change Ahab.
(d) he takes advantage of the beautiful morning.

6. What is the ship's carpenter assigned to do?
(a) carve a new ivory peg leg for Ahab.
(b) erect a tent so Ahab can stay on deck.
(c) repair all the boats to encounter Moby Dick.
(d) build a chair for Ahab on deck.

7. What odd behavior on the part of Ahab occurs over the apparatus used for determining latitude?
(a) Ahab dashes it against the deck of the ship.
(b) Ahab orders it taken to the top of the mast.
(c) Ahab uses it to throw at a whale.
(d) Ahab throws it overboard.

8. Where is the large hunting ground where the Pequod finds itself in the middle of a pod of sperm whales?
(a) near Nantucket.
(b) near Japan.
(c) near Capetown.
(d) near Jakarta.

9. How does Stubb convince the French ship to leave?
(a) by convincing them the dead whale will make them sick.
(b) by showing them the Pequod's mark on the whale.
(c) by telling them where to find live whales.
(d) by letting them smell the rotting flesh of the whale.

10. How does Stubb regain a dead whale from a French whaling boat?
(a) by playing poker.
(b) by stealing the dead whale at night.
(c) by threatening to blow up their boat.
(d) by using humor and intelligence.

11. How does Ishmael classify the oiling of the bottom of a boat?
(a) a ceremony performed to attract whales.
(b) a ceremony of initiation of new sailors.
(c) a ceremony performed for Neptune.
(d) a ceremony performed for good luck.

12. Why does Ishmael linger on the Biblical story of Jonah?
(a) because he does not believe the Biblical account.
(b) because some crewmen doubt the story.
(c) because it explains a lot about whales.
(d) because he remembers sermons about Jonah.

13. What is the crew of The Delight about to do as the Pequod comes alongside?
(a) repair the masts.
(b) bury one of their men.
(c) lower the sails.
(d) man the whale boats.

14. What does Ishmael say the head of a sperm whale resembles?
(a) the toe of a boot.
(b) a Grecian urn.
(c) a boulder.
(d) a Roman chariot.

15. What is the change in Stubb?
(a) he becomes more of a clown.
(b) he walks with a faster pace.
(c) he becomes a cheerleader for the crew.
(d) he no longer jokes and laughs.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Stubb get from the dead whale?

2. Why does the crew on the ship see Stubb's and Flask's boats coming fast toward them?

3. Why is the captain of The Rachel appealing for help from the Pequod?

4. What is the next whaling ship the Pequod meets during the search for Moby Dick?

5. What is Ahab's response to the call for help?

(see the answer keys)

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