- 1. Two Years Before the Mast, written by Richard Henry Dana Jr. and published in 1840, is an autobiographical narrative chronicling the author's experiences aboard a merchant ship, the Pilgrim, as he sails from Boston to California and back. Dana, who embarked on this maritime journey at the age of 19 in 1834, provides a vivid and detailed account of life at sea, capturing the daily struggles of sailors, the harsh conditions of their labor, and the beauty and peril of the ocean. Throughout the book, he offers a poignant critique of the treatment of sailors, illustrating the brutal realities of working on a ship and the lack of rights afforded to those in the maritime profession. The narrative is not only an adventure tale but also a social commentary on the inequalities faced by workers, making it a significant work in American literature and an important document in the history of maritime culture. Dana's eloquent prose, combined with his keen observations, evokes a rich tapestry of 19th-century maritime life, and his reflections on nature and the human spirit resonate with readers, establishing the book as a timeless classic.
What was the name of the ship Dana sailed on?
A) The Pilgrim
B) The Bounty
C) The Constitution
D) The Mayflower
- 2. What California settlement did Dana describe in detail?
A) San Diego
B) San Francisco
C) Monterey
D) Los Angeles
- 3. How long was Dana's original voyage intended to last?
A) One year
B) Two years
C) Three years
D) Six months
- 4. What was Dana's social background before going to sea?
A) Poor farmer from the countryside
B) Harvard student from a wealthy family
C) Shopkeeper's apprentice
D) Factory worker from Boston
- 5. How did sailors typically load hides onto ships?
A) Using cranes and pulleys
B) Carrying them through surf on their heads
C) They floated them on rafts
D) Native workers carried them
- 6. What was the daily food ration for sailors?
A) Fresh fish and vegetables
B) Hardtack and salt beef
C) Corn meal and molasses
D) Rice and dried fruit
- 7. How did sailors spend their limited free time?
A) Mending clothes and reading
B) Swimming alongside the ship
C) Fishing over the side
D) Playing cards and gambling
- 8. What was the condition of the Pilgrim when Dana left it?
A) It returned to Boston empty
B) It continued trading along the coast
C) It sank in a storm
D) It was sold in California
- 9. What did Dana do after returning from his voyage?
A) Returned to Harvard and became a lawyer
B) Went back to sea as a captain
C) Joined the navy
D) Became a California rancher
- 10. What was the 'graveyard watch'?
A) The midnight to 4 AM shift
B) The 8 PM to midnight shift
C) The daylight watch
D) The burial at sea ceremony
- 11. What was the significance of Dana's book?
A) It described gold discovery methods
B) It taught naval battle tactics
C) It promoted whaling industry
D) It exposed conditions for common sailors
- 12. What cargo does the Pilgrim carry to California?
A) Manufactured goods
B) Grain
C) Slaves
D) Gold
- 13. What cargo does the ship carry back from California?
A) Silk
B) Spices
C) Cowhides
D) Tobacco
- 14. Who is the cruel captain of the Pilgrim?
A) Captain Thompson
B) Captain Bligh
C) Captain Smith
D) Captain Ahab
- 15. What is the name of the Hawaiian sailor who becomes Dana's friend?
A) Kamehameha
B) Maui
C) Lono
D) Hope
- 16. What punishment does Captain Thompson frequently use?
A) Imprisonment
B) Flogging
C) Reduced rations
D) Extra work
- 17. What literary form is 'Two Years Before the Mast'?
A) Play
B) Novel
C) Poem
D) Memoir
- 18. What was Dana's social class before going to sea?
A) Upper class
B) Middle class
C) Slave
D) Lower class
- 19. What natural disaster does Dana experience in California?
A) Tornado
B) Hurricane
C) Volcanic eruption
D) Earthquake
- 20. What does Dana study upon returning to Boston?
A) Medicine
B) Navigation
C) Law
D) Theology
- 21. What does Dana think of California's potential?
A) No future value
B) Great future prosperity
C) Dangerous and wild
D) Suitable only for natives
- 22. What is the crew's attitude toward Dana initially?
A) Respectful
B) Indifferent
C) Friendly
D) Suspicious
- 23. What disease did Dana contract during the voyage?
A) Smallpox
B) Typhoid
C) Scurvy
D) Malaria
- 24. What was the name of the ship Dana returned to Boston on?
A) The Pilgrim
B) The Eagle
C) The Constitution
D) The Alert
- 25. What was the common term for sailors who worked before the mast?
A) Marines
B) Officers
C) Carpenters
D) Forecastle hands
- 26. What year was 'Two Years Before the Mast' first published?
A) 1850
B) 1860
C) 1830
D) 1840
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