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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. As he heads home and stops to look back, what does Santiago see?
(a) The skeleton of the great fish lashed to the skiff.
(b) Gulls swarming around his boat.
(c) Small sharks trying to get the last of the meat off the marlin.
(d) Nothing, because there is no light.

2. What amusing thing does the old man say to the fish as the fish begins to come nearer the skiff?
(a) Fish, you will look good hanging from my wall.
(b) Fish, don't you understand that you are beaten already?
(c) Fish, why don't you just give up?
(d) Fish, you are going to die. Do you have to kill me, too?

3. Why does Santiago decide to go farther out to sea than usual?
(a) He wants to get away from other boats.
(b) He thinks big fish may be out where the schools of bonito and albacore stay.
(c) He has never been far out before.
(d) He thinks the nearer waters have been fished out.

4. What does the boy order for Santiago at the Terrace Cafe?
(a) Hot coffee with plenty of milk and sugar.
(b) A bag of ice to help bring down his fever.
(c) Yellow rice and fried fish.
(d) Two bottles of warm beer.

5. How does Santiago justify killing the shark?
(a) The reward money.
(b) Self-defense.
(c) Saving other lives.
(d) Respect for the marlin.

6. When do the sharks return after Santiago loses his makeshift harpoon?
(a) Just after dark.
(b) Just before sunset.
(c) Early the next morning.
(d) Immediately after he ran them off the first time.

7. As the sun sets, what advantage does Santiago tell himself he has over the marlin?
(a) He has eaten but the marlin has not.
(b) He will be able to sleep but the marlin cannot.
(c) Night time is easier for a man than for a fish.
(d) On the surface, he can see the stars but the marlin cannot.

8. What happens when the shovel-nose shark comes and Santiago stabs it in the brain with his makeshift harpoon?
(a) The knife blade snaps off.
(b) The shark almost pulls the old man overboard.
(c) The knife comes untied from the oar.
(d) At that moment the wind dies down.

9. Why do the sharks finally go away?
(a) They know the old man is dying.
(b) There is nothing left to eat on the marlin.
(c) Their heads hurt from the bat blows.
(d) They cannot see in the dark.

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

11. How does the old man discover that the fish is slowing down?
(a) From the fact that the breeze subsides.
(b) From the way the flying fish jump shorter distances.
(c) From the flow of blood from his hand in the water.
(d) From the way the man-of-war bird has to use his wings more.

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

13. What is the boy's name?
(a) Pedrico.
(b) Gabriel.
(c) Jose.
(d) Manolin.

14. What sound of nature replaces human sounds as Santiago rows farther and farther out to sea?
(a) The lapping of the waves against the skiff.
(b) The call of humpback whales.
(c) The hissing of the wings of flying fish.
(d) The chatter of dolphins searching for breakfast.

15. When does the old man hoist his sail?
(a) When he could not row because of the fish at the side of the skiff.
(b) When he thought he heard an airplane.
(c) When the winds died down.
(d) When it is time to return to the island.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the old man do to prepare for the arrival of the shark?

2. How do we know the old man sleeps for a very long time?

3. What does Santiago reply when the boy asks how much he suffered?

4. How thick is the line the old man uses to catch big fish?

5. What does the old man think about to build up his courage as the sun sets on the second day?

(see the answer keys)

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