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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Santiago estimate the size of the marlin?
(a) Two feet longer than the skiff.
(b) Longer than a small tree is tall.
(c) Twice as long as the last marlin he caught.
(d) Twice as long as he is tall.

2. What effect did his movement and the hot sun during the day have on Santiago?
(a) His hand uncramped.
(b) His backache went away.
(c) There was more bleeding from the cuts on his hands.
(d) He felt like a young man again.

3. What idea does Santiago have to help tire the marlin out?
(a) Lashing the oars across the stern of the skiff to increase drag.
(b) Catching more dolphin and making them pull against the marlin.
(c) Raising the sail when the wind blows in the opposite direction.
(d) Tying off the line and rowing in the opposite direction.

4. How does Santiago know that he is not dead?
(a) He feels hungry.
(b) He pinches himself.
(c) He falls down when he tries to get to the tiller.
(d) He can bring back the pain in his hands by opening and closing them.

5. Who helps Santiago as he lands his boat?
(a) The boy.
(b) No one. Everyone is at home in bed.
(c) The fishermen who are laughing at him.
(d) The whole city turns out to welcome him back.

6. What does the tourist woman think she is seeing as she looks at the fish skeleton?
(a) A fish that died of starvation.
(b) What is left of a shark.
(c) Evidence of a feast the night before.
(d) A biology experiment.

7. What does the old man think about to build up his courage as the sun sets on the second day?
(a) He remembers surviving after falling overboard.
(b) He thinks about how the boy looks up to him as a great fisherman.
(c) He remembers arm wrestling and defeating the Negro from Cienfuegos.
(d) He recalls killing a shark while he was swimming one day.

8. What does the old man think about a cramp?
(a) It is something that goes away quickly.
(b) It humiliates oneself.
(c) It will make him stop fishing.
(d) It is better than having to vomit.

9. How does Hemingway use Joe DiMaggio's injury to show Santiago's limited education?
(a) He thinks DiMaggio has chicken feet.
(b) He pretends to know what a bone spur is.
(c) He has no idea what a bone spur is.
(d) He thinks DiMaggio can poke out a catcher's eye.

10. After he finally gets to the shack and puts down the mast, what does Santiago find?
(a) A newspaper with the baseball scores.
(b) A water bottle.
(c) A warm beer.
(d) His bed has been stolen.

11. What does the shadow of a passing airplane do on the surface of the sea?
(a) Makes the dolphins go away.
(b) Scares up a school of flying fish.
(c) Startles Santiago.
(d) Bounces like a basketball.

12. What does Santiago find in the dolphin's maw when he cuts it open?
(a) A fish hook.
(b) A small turtle.
(c) Two flying fish.
(d) A piece of the marlin's tail.

13. By nightfall of the third day, what does Santiago expect to see?
(a) Other fishing boats out at night.
(b) More sharks attacking his boat.
(c) A few stars.
(d) The lights of Havana.

14. What are Santiago's last three weapons he can use against the sharks?
(a) A broken knife, some big fish hooks, and the oars.
(b) Two oars, the tiller, and a short club.
(c) The broken water bottle, the oars, and a club.
(d) The oars, the anchor, and some line.

15. What tells Santiago that he is becoming unclear in the head?
(a) He thinks he sees the fish turning green.
(b) He tells himself to let the fish go.
(c) He tells the fish to come and kill him.
(d) He thinks he has two fish on his line.

Short Answer Questions

1. How long does Santiago think he will be out to sea the morning he leaves to go far out?

2. How do you know Santiago had never been up in a plane?

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

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

5. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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