View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Santiago imagine Joe DiMaggio would be able to do what he is doing with the marlin?
(a) He would get too tired because baseball games do not last for days.
(b) He couldn't do it at all because of his bone spur.
(c) Better, because his is young and strong and his father was a fisherman.
(d) Not so well except at clubbing the big fish to death.

2. How did the old man know the marlin had turned eastward?
(a) The eastern sea breezes grew stronger.
(b) The skiff began to go slower against the east wind.
(c) The afternoon sun was on his back.
(d) His compass indicated the direction.

3. How many times does the old man have to stop and sit down on his way to his shack?
(a) 3 times.
(b) 2 times.
(c) 5 times.
(d) 6 times.

4. What assistance for the old man does the boy try to get?
(a) He tries to get his mother to make food for Santiago.
(b) He tries to get a new sail for Santiago's boat.
(c) He tries to get the boat he is now on to go far out near the old man.
(d) He tries to get better bait for Santiago.

5. How thick is the line the old man uses to catch big fish?
(a) A big around as his thumb.
(b) As big around as a pencil.
(c) About as thick as an oar handle.
(d) Very small but strong.

6. What does Santiago mean when he says that he must think because that is all he has left?
(a) As long as he keeps on thinking, he knows he is still alive.
(b) He can only survive by using the intelligence he has that sharks do not have.
(c) His thinking will help keep him awake after losing so much sleep.
(d) Thinking will keep him from feeling lonely without the boy there to help him.

7. What kind of sharks came the second time?
(a) Yellow sharks.
(b) Hammer head sharks.
(c) Great white sharks.
(d) Shovel-nosed sharks.

8. When Santiago sees the marlin jump out of the water, what does he realize?
(a) The marlin is getting very tired and the game is about over.
(b) It will take another day to bring in this marlin.
(c) He and the marlin are about the same size.
(d) He is no physical match for the marlin.

9. What simile does Hemingway use to show the boy's admiration for Santiago?
(a) He says that Santiago is like Joe DiMaggio.
(b) He likens Santiago's fishing greatness to the greatest baseball managers.
(c) He calls Sanitiago his hero.
(d) He compares Santiago to a giant shark.

10. Who does Santiago think would be proud of him after he gets the fish lashed to the boat?
(a) The boy.
(b) The other fishermen in the village.
(c) God.
(d) The great DiMaggio.

11. Santiago's respect for nature and the marlin he has on his line is profound. What does he think about the people who will eat the great fish?
(a) They will receive some of the marlin's strength when they eat him.
(b) They will refuse to eat him.
(c) They will be more dignified than the marlin.
(d) They are unworthy to eat him.

12. Why does the boy not go out with the fishing boats the morning of Santiago's return?
(a) He found Santiago dead in his shack.
(b) The winds were too strong for the boats to sail that morning.
(c) He wanted to stay on the shore and watch for the old man's return.
(d) He was too tired from fishing the day before.

13. How long does Santiago think he will be out to sea the morning he leaves to go far out?
(a) One day.
(b) Three days.
(c) Only that morning.
(d) Two days.

14. What does the old man imagine about the marlin if it had been alive?
(a) He imagines it fighting the sharks with the spear on its head.
(b) He thinks the marlin could outswim the sharks.
(c) He thinks the marlin would get away because it can jump so high.
(d) He imagines the marlin would eat the harks.

15. What does Santiago plan to do to change his luck?
(a) He plans to row far out to fish.
(b) He takes his lucky charms with him.
(c) He gets the priest to bless his boat.
(d) He buys a new sail for his boat.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the fisherman say about the marlin to the boy?

2. What does the old man say he has to eat in his shack?

3. What indicates the old man's pride?

4. How old was the boy the first time he went fishing with Santiago?

5. Does Santiago think of the wind as his friend?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 848 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample