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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the city of origin painted on the Martha Ann's hull?
2. What strikes Dirk as odd about the galley and lounge area of the Starbuck on his initial recon mission with LT March?
3. How long does it take for Dirk to get the helicopter the Martha Ann is carrying from a cold start into the air?
4. What ship is responsible for reporting the incident to the Lillie Marlene?
5. What is the weather as the Martha Ann gets underway?
Short Essay Questions
1. What two things does the receptionist at ADM Hunter's office assume of Dirk Pitt when he arrives in his bathing suit?
2. Dirk sees no need to show up on time to his "date" with ADM Hunter (to report for duty). How is this reflective of both Dirk's personality and his attitude towards ADM Hunter?
3. Why is it important for ADM Hunter's men to get to the accident site when the gray van runs off the road before the Honolulu police?
4. A gray Dodge van pursues Dirk and the driver of the van begins shooting at Dirk before attempting to run him off the road. Unravel the mystery. Who has the motive, knowledge, and opportunity to tip off "Them," whoever "They" might be, to Dirk's presence and interested activity?
5. What is a seamount?
6. In this first book of the Dirk Pitt series written by Clive Cussler, Cussler immediately begins giving hints as to Dirk's colorful personality. What are some of the incidents or statements in the first chapter that illustrate Dirk's character?
7. Why is ADM Hunter taking the step of having Dirk detailed officially to the 101st Salvage Fleet?
8. How are the dead bodies described on the Lillie Marlene? How does this description contribute to the myth of the Pacific Vortex?
9. Dirk does not appreciate ADM Hunter's highhanded move to take control of his [Dirk's] life by having him detailed to his [ADM Hunter's] command. How is he "persuaded" into it?
10. Why is the Starbuck's last reported position Top Secret information?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
LCDR Paul Boland and Dirk Pitt have other differences besides personality, one of them being background. Dirk accuses Boland of being unperceptive as to the oddities of the condition of the Starbuck. How do their very different backgrounds affect their perception of "important details" and why is Boland more likely to overlook the key factors in the discovery of the Starbuck?
Essay Topic 2
Examined carefully, the association between Dirk's reason for visiting to the Polynesian history museum and George Papaaloa's story of Kanoli is slightly obscure except as a plot mechanism. There is nothing Papaaloa relates in the story of Kanoli to suggest that it is related to the Pacific Vortex. The relevance of this revelation seems somewhat abstract. This is especially true since the Vortex has only been "operational" for about 40 years. Rewrite this episode using the essence of the legend of Kanoli as it stands but add elements that allow the two stories to appear related, making the transition from one to the other more smoothly.
Essay Topic 3
Carefully analyze the "real" condition of the Starbuck with respect to international maritime law. Whose waters is she sitting in and who can rightfully claim her? How do the laws of maritime salvage govern this kind of at-sea loss? Most importantly, how does this contribute to the urgency and top-secretiveness in the plot?
This section contains 1,291 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |