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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What concept does Steinbeck muse on, as inspired by the seemingly millions of fish in the water?
(a) The wealth and poverty and its inequality.
(b) The schooling behavior of fishes.
(c) The duration of the trip and decides to go back for a longer one.
(d) The culinary delights that can be made out of the many fish in the ocean.

2. What can be found in Laredo that is of particular interest to the expedition party?
(a) A famous scientist and his laboratory.
(b) A famous restaurant known for its flapjacks.
(c) A famous church and its associated mission.
(d) A famous beach filled with starfishes and sea turtles.

3. Why does the crew forego stopping at Santa Rosalia?
(a) There are several unfriendly locals in Santa Rosalia.
(b) They are already pressed for time.
(c) There is not much to see in Santa Rosalia.
(d) Santa Rosalia asks for very steep visitors' taxes.

4. What is the most important gift that the Sea of Cortez gives the expedition party, according to Steinbeck?
(a) The ability to predict the tides, which will come handy for sea travellers like them.
(b) A way of seeing life, time and beauty that is different from those they have previously experienced.
(c) Three huge, beautiful pearls they have found on the shore.
(d) The new language that they have learned to speak, as used in Guaymas.

5. What are the fishermen heading out to work complaining about early in the morning on April 8th?
(a) A noisy dog that scares all the fish away.
(b) A big sea vessel that kills all the sea turtles.
(c) Some Japanese trawlers that are taking all the shrimp.
(d) A Japanese businessman who is buying all the fish at half the price.

6. What new species does the crew unsuccessfully try to collect in San Carlos Bay?
(a) Seaweed and sandhoppers.
(b) Sea horses and anemone fish.
(c) Sea snakes and star fish.
(d) Sea urchins and eels.

7. Where does the expedition party go after Laredo?
(a) North to La Luz.
(b) North to Punta Fuego.
(c) North to Escondido Bay.
(d) North to Coronado Island.

8. On Easter Sunday, despite facing difficulties collecting specimens, Steinbeck and Ricketts are able to catch a significant marine life - what is it?
(a) A small, printed seahorse.
(b) A large, beautiful lobster.
(c) A shiny, white porpoise.
(d) A large, century old turtle.

9. Which statement best describes Puerto Escondido?
(a) It is a small town most visited by scientists such as Darwin.
(b) It is a bustling community where kids play along the shore and housewives cooked food all day.
(c) It is a beautiful mangrove-ringed lagoon with an interior channel to the town.
(d) It is a small isalnd where sea vessels can moor while refuelling.

10. What does the expedition party see towards the end of April 22 as they sail south?
(a) Several dolphins and whales.
(b) Kids and mothers going to school.
(c) A group of artists with long hair and tattoos.
(d) Fishing boats from the town of Guaymas.

11. What does Steinbeck lament about that is in connection with persistence of beliefs and actual happenings?
(a) That actual happenings are actually the basis of many persistent beliefs.
(b) That actual happenings are always distorted to give way to more controversial beliefs.
(c) That a good hypothesis can blind a person to alternative theories and even to actual data that could disprove it.
(d) That persistence of beliefs can actually lead to actual happenings.

12. How does the morning of March 31 affect the activities of the expedition party?
(a) It is raining heavily which makes it impossible to collect anything on shore or underwater.
(b) There is a storm on the horizon which prompts the crew to leave earlier than planned.
(c) Although it is low tide, the tide was quite high and the wind is up, making it difficult to collect onshore or underwater.
(d) There is a celebration in town and the expedition party is distracted and lured into attending the party.

13. What observation do Steinbeck and Ricketts have regarding the marine life in Coronado Island and Monterey Bay?
(a) That many species have blue and black dominant colors.
(b) That many species from the two places appear to be similar.
(c) That most species have a red spot on their tails.
(d) That most species swim in twos.

14. Which statement best describes Concepcion Bay, the expedition's next destination?
(a) There is not marine life in the bay, and so the crew left hastily.
(b) Too many rocks can be found near the shore, which signals the unwillingness of the town to accept visitors.
(c) Schools of tuna amd swordfish can be found in the bay and leap all around them.
(d) There are so many jellyfish and sea anemone clearly seen from the deck of the boat.

15. Why does everyone feel a bit gloomy on their return to the Gulf?
(a) They feel that the expedition is a failure.
(b) One of their crew members dies.
(c) Some want to stay while some are eager to get to the end.
(d) They all want to stay for one more week at sea.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which statement best describes the marine life in Puerto Escondido?

2. How many of these sea creatures that interest him does Tiny catch?

3. What do the coastal Indians whom Steinbeck and Ricketts met in Puerto Escondido do?

4. Which statement best describes Guaymas?

5. What is the best description for Angeles Bay?

(see the answer keys)

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