The Voyage of the James Caird

What is the purpose of the voyage in "The Voyage of the James Caird"?

• to chart a better route between Antarctica and the nearest whaling stations

• to reach and explore Antarctica

• to set a record for boat travel in the Antarctic

• to find help for the crew of a larger ship stranded in Antarctica

In "The Voyage of the James Caird," McNish's diary abruptly breaks off at May 2. What circumstances caused him to cease writing?

• He had fallen seriously ill

• The crew had run out of fresh drinking water

• The crew had been fighting a gale for days

• The boat had landed on South Georgia Island

In "The Voyage of the James Caird," what hardships does the crew face in the course of the journey? Choose three options.

• They ran out of food

• Ice froze on the boat

• They stalled when the wind died

• The winds reached gale speeds

• Giant waves broke over the boat

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the conclusion of the voyage in "The Voyage of the James Caird?"

• The wind and waves push the boat to South Georgia Island

• The crew guides the boat into the docks in King Haakon Sound

• The crew steers the boat through a reef to land at Elephant Island

• The crew steers the boat through a reef to land at South Georgia Island

Which of the following situations could best be used to illustrate the meaning of reeling?

• a busy woman strolling quickly down the road

• a frustrated man stopping at a traffic signal

• a seasoned runner striding in a marathon

• a dizzy child unable to stop spinning around

Which is the best definition of upheaval as it is used in the following sentence?

The upheaval of the ground destroyed the lawn.

• persistent digging

• intense pollution

• slow, steady erosion

• violent upward movement

Which is the best definition of pitched as it is used to refer to the movement of a vessel?

• began to sink suddenly

• turned from side to side

• rose and fell with waves

• surged straight ahead

Read the following excerpt: [Worsely wrote:] "Whenever [Shackleton] noticed that a man seemed extra cold and shivered, he would immediately order another hot drink of milk to be prepared and served to all. He never let the man know that it was on his account, lest he became nervous about himself.

Which of the following is the most logical inference you can make about the character of Worsely, one of the crew?

• He is observant and appreciative of others

• He hardly notices any physical discomfort

• He is consistently optimistic about the future

• He is gruff and bad-tempered with the crew

Read the following passage from "The Voyage of the James Caird," in which the crew finally arrives on land:

The sound of the running water drew them to a small stream nearly at their feet. They fell upon their knees and drank their fill.

Which is the most likely reason the writer concludes the account of this scene with a quotation from Shackleton?

• The quotation adds descriptive detail to her account of the scene.

• The quotation leads readers to imagine how Shackleton felt at that moment.

• The quotation creates suspense leading readers to want to read further.

• The quotation proves that she has correctly reported the facts of the scene.

What are the main sources of evidence Alexander uses in "The Voyage of the James Caird?"

• interviews with members of the crew

• newspaper accounts from the time

• diaries and other accounts by the crew

• works by historians of exploration