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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which statement best describes the expedition team's reaction on the topic of going home?
(a) Only Tex and Tony are looking forward to going home, the rest want to stay.
(b) Tex and Tony want to stay while the rest want to go home.
(c) The team wants to take several children from Guaymas with them.
(d) John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts want to stay to complete their expedition mission.

2. Where does the expedition party sail next on Easter Sunday?
(a) Out of the lagoon and to the next collecting stop south of Marcial Point.
(b) They leave La Paz and sail north to Tribecca.
(c) They finally sail to Cortez, Mexico.
(d) They return to Magdalene Bay because tex forgot the collections he had.

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

4. What does the expedition party use instead of the tide chart to watch the rise and fall of the tides?
(a) A sailor's watch.
(b) A marked stick.
(c) Steinbeck's journal.
(d) Ricketts' compass.

5. How do the ladies of Laredo react to the expedition party?
(a) They are offended that the expedition party is allowed to dock in Laredo.
(b) They sell many of their beadworks, telling them that the beads are rare and can only be found in Laredo.
(c) The expedition party serves as a source of merriment to the local girls, and the older women cannot stop giggling.
(d) They immediately offer to serve as their housekeepers, promising good food all the time.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Puerto Refugio located?

2. What new species does the crew unsuccessfully try to collect in San Carlos Bay?

3. What does the expedition party do differently on the morning of March 28?

4. What observation do Steinbeck and Ricketts have regarding the marine life in Coronado Island and Monterey Bay?

5. How many giant sea turtles does the group catch on April 11 in Agiabampo?

Short Essay Questions

1. Near Guaymas, the crew feel a little contempt over the fact that the fishermen they see are too spotless in their white outfits. Explain briefly the circumstances and why the crew feel such contempt.

2. Discuss the theories and examples presented by members of the expedition team on how persistence of beliefs of mind can overcome actual reality.

3. Explain Steinbeck's theory on how man can improve himself and the human race if only he studies certain cycles in civilization.

4. Provide a description to how Steinbeck, Ricketts and the crew do the labeling and sorting of their collected specimen.

5. Santa Rosalia is described as much different from the other towns they have seen. What could have been in Santa Rosalia that makes it so different from the others?

6. Steinbeck and Ricketts willingly accept the offer to go on a big sheep-hunting expedition even though it is apparent that they do not have the desires to hunt any creature. Give a probable explanation as to why the two readily agreed to the invitation in the first place.

7. What does the expedition party encounter at the port of Guaymas? Explain their reactions to the situation.

8. It is mentioned that Tex is getting married and therefore should be watching his weight very keenly. Speculate on Tex's marriage. Why did he agree to sail even when he is getting married? Why can't he stay on a diet to look good on his wedding day?

9. Discuss Steinbeck's lamentations on the briefness of their expedition, and how he wished that they have brought full-sized aquariums.

10. Discuss Steinbeck's theory on how societal restrictions dictate what is acceptable behavior and what is not. What introduced this discussion?

(see the answer keys)

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