Chapter 60 - The Line Quiz — Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

by Herman Melville

Comprehension Quiz: Chapter 60 - The Line

What material has largely replaced hemp for whale-lines in the American fishery?

  • Cotton rope
  • Manilla rope
  • Silk cord
  • Iron chain

How thick is the whale-line?

  • One inch
  • Two-thirds of an inch
  • One-half of an inch
  • One and a half inches

Approximately how much strain can the whole whale-line bear?

  • One ton
  • Nearly three tons
  • Five tons
  • Ten tons

How long is the common sperm whale-line?

  • One hundred fathoms
  • Something over two hundred fathoms
  • Five hundred fathoms
  • Fifty fathoms

What shape does the coiled line form in its tub?

  • A cone shape
  • A cheese-shaped mass
  • A pyramid
  • A flat disc

Why might some harpooneers spend an entire morning coiling the line?

  • To pass the time on a boring voyage
  • To ensure it is free from all possible wrinkles and twists
  • To make the tub look attractive
  • To dry it out after rain

How many tubs do English boats use compared to American boats?

  • One tub (same as American)
  • Two tubs instead of one
  • Three tubs
  • No tubs; they coil on the deck

Why is the lower end of the whale-line left unattached to the boat?

  • So the line can be cleaned easily
  • To allow connection to another boat’s line and prevent the boat from being dragged under
  • Because the crew forgot to tie it
  • To make the line lighter

What does Ishmael compare the oarsmen surrounded by the line to?

  • Prisoners in chains
  • Indian jugglers with deadly snakes
  • Sailors caught in a storm
  • Children playing with string

What historical figures does Ishmael compare the six-man crew to?

  • The Twelve Apostles
  • The six burghers of Calais before King Edward
  • The Roman Senate
  • The Knights of the Round Table

What is the chapter’s main philosophical conclusion?

  • Whaling should be abolished for safety reasons
  • All men live enveloped in whale-lines and face hidden dangers constantly
  • The whale-line is the most important tool on a whaling ship
  • Manilla rope is superior to hemp in every way

What does Ishmael compare the calm repose of the coiled line to?

  • A sleeping baby
  • A loaded rifle that holds fatal powder and ball
  • A coiled spring
  • A hibernating bear

What does Ishmael say about Manilla rope’s appearance compared to hemp?

  • Hemp is golden while Manilla is dark
  • Hemp is a "dusky, dark fellow" while Manilla is like a "golden-haired Circassian"
  • They look identical
  • Manilla is red while hemp is white

Around what boat fitting is the upper end of the line passed before a chase?

  • The mast
  • The loggerhead
  • The anchor
  • The rudder

What does Ishmael say a philosopher in the whale-boat would feel compared to sitting by an evening fire?

  • Far more terror on the boat
  • Not one whit more terror
  • Complete peace on the boat
  • Indifference to both situations

Comprehension Quiz

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