Island Survival Quiz - MSN Encarta

Your yacht has capsized and you're about two miles from the small island you can see in the distance. You're going to have to swim for it, but how?

Swim as quickly as possible to avoid sharks and other hazards.

Use a sidestroke to conserve energy while making steady progress toward land.

Float with the current, as it will surely take you to land.

Stay with the boat no matter what.

Islands in the Pacific are often surrounded by powerful surf and rip currents. How do you reach land when swimming through rip currents?

Currents (Image credit: © Microsoft Corporation)

Swim perpendicular to shore using a freestyle stroke.

Swim underwater directly toward shore, surfacing only to breathe (obviously).

Swim parallel to shore using the breaststroke until you're free of the current.

Bodysurf the waves until you reach the shore.

Since you were out boating, a search party will likely be looking for you. What should you prepare to attract the attention of any air- or watercraft?

Make a large “X” in the sand with downed wood, rocks, etc.

Build a signal fire.

Make a large flag with whatever materials you have on hand.

All of the above.

Unfortunately, the lighter that you have with you is ruined from your swim. What is a traditional Polynesian method for starting a fire?

Fire plow

Matches

Flint and striker

Ritual dance to the fire god

The Polynesians call this tree the "tree of life."

Hibiscus

Bamboo

Coconut

Cedar

Which type of coconut contains more water?

Brown

Green

More people die every year from coconuts falling on their heads than from shark attacks.

True

False

You are hungry and decide to try spearfishing. What makes a good spear?

Hibiscus

Bamboo

Balsa

Driftwood

Moray eels are inedible.

Mosaic Moray Eel (Image credit: Rudie Kuiter/Oxford Scientific Films)

True

False

You didn't have any luck with your spear, so you decide to try another method of fishing employed by indigenous people throughout the Pacific. What is that fishing technique?

Tubli plant poisoning

Net fishing

Line fishing

Fly fishing