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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Speaking out loud, what does Santiago say to the big fish on his line?
(a) I'll stay with you until I'm dead!
(b) Come on up and let me get a good look at you!
(c) For heaven's sake, turn around and go the other way.
(d) Fish, aren't you getting tired yet?

2. Why doesn't Santiago put the marlin into his boat?
(a) He thinks it would be disrespectful.
(b) He is blinded by seawater and cannot see.
(c) The skiff is too full of water.
(d) The marlin is too large.

3. Why does Santiago wish the marlin would sleep?
(a) So he could sleep and dream of lions.
(b) So he could catch his supper.
(c) So he could get up and walk around.
(d) So he could slowly pull the marlin in.

4. How does Santiago console himself after the first shark attack?
(a) That he had killed the shark.
(b) That it was all a dream.
(c) That the worst was over.
(d) That he was still alive.

5. 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 would get away because it can jump so high.
(c) He thinks the marlin could outswim the sharks.
(d) He imagines the marlin would eat the harks.

6. What does Santiago fear if he does not sleep after two days?
(a) That he might die.
(b) That he will fall asleep and go overborad.
(c) That the marlin will come up slowly and eat his dolphin.
(d) That he will become unclear in the head.

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

8. What does Santiago wish he could show the fish?
(a) How many fathoms of line he had in the boat.
(b) How his hand was cramped.
(c) His club he would use to kill the fish.
(d) What manner of man the fish was up against.

9. What brings the shark towards Santiago's boat?
(a) The sound of Santiago talking out loud.
(b) A school of dolphins following the boat.
(c) The flying fish jumping along side the boat.
(d) A dark cloud of blood from the marlin.

10. What makes the flying fish jump out of the water and scatter feverishly?
(a) The man-of-war bird circling overhead.
(b) The rising sun.
(c) A shark.
(d) Dolphins.

11. What contrast does Santiago think about that shows the hard work ahead of him as night falls?
(a) He thinks about having to kill the marlin and is glad he does not have to kill the stars.
(b) He thinks about how much larger the marlin is than the tiny stars.
(c) He thinks about how deep the marlin is and how high the stars are.
(d) He considers the difference between night and day while fishing.

12. What does the old man fear since the shark had taken about forty pounds of flesh off the marlin?
(a) That he would not win a prize for catching the largest marlin.
(b) That there would soon be other sharks.
(c) That fishermen would say he found the marlin dead and floating in the water.
(d) That people would think he had eaten part of his catch.

13. After Santiago goes back to sleep, what is he dreaming of?
(a) Lions.
(b) Broken knives.
(c) Sharks.
(d) Catching a larger fish.

14. What does Santiago think there are people who are paid to do?
(a) Understand the omens.
(b) Think about sin.
(c) Build bigger boats than his.
(d) Write books about fishing.

15. As his head becomes unclear again, what does Santiago ask himself?
(a) Why didn't I just tow him behind the skiff?
(b) Is he bringing me in or am I bringing him in?
(c) Why am I not dreaming of lions?
(d) What happened to the marlin's dignity?

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the old man pleased that the marlin had jumped a dozen times?

2. What happens when the shovel-nose shark comes and Santiago stabs it in the brain with his makeshift harpoon?

3. What does Santiago mean when he thinks that man is not made for defeat?

4. How does Hemingway use Joe DiMaggio's injury to show Santiago's limited education?

5. What does the old man speculate he could use to buy good luck?

(see the answer keys)

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