Shackleton's "Endurance" Expedition

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. When Sir Ernest Shackleton's "Endurance" expedition set sail from England on August 8, 1914, what did he hope to accomplish? Shackleton planned on establishing the first permanent scientific base on Antarctica. The "Endurance" planned to circumnavigate Antarctica. He wanted to be the first to cross Antarctica overland. He was to bring back the bodies of Robert Scott and his comrades from the South Pole.

2. Shackleton named the ship "Endurance" after his family motto "By endurance we conquer". How much (in English pounds) did Shackleton pay Lars Christensen, the Norwegian whaling magnate, for the "Endurance"? 17,000 10,000 14,000 20,000

3. To accomplish his goal in Antarctica, Shackleton also purchased the ship "Aurora". Which of the following famous explorers had originaly used the "Aurora"? Robert E. Peary Robert Falcon Scott Sir Douglas Mawson Roald Amundsen

4. When the "Endurance" set sail from Buenos Aires, South America, Perce Blackborrow was on board. Who was Perce Blackborrow? Perce Blackborrow was the ship's cat. It was the name of a parrot belonging to the cook. That was the name of the ship's carpenter. He was a stowaway.

5. True or False. Most of the dog teams that sailed aboard "Endurance" were paid for by donations from public school children in England and Scotland. True False

6. The "Endurance" first encountered pack ice on December 7, 1914 on the Weddell Sea, and by January 19, 1915 it was apparent that the ship was stuck fast. After fighting valiantly against the ever-crushing pack, the "Endurance" finally was abandoned. When did Shackleton give the order for his men to abandon ship? October 25, 1915 December 15, 1915 September 11, 1915 October 2, 1915

7. After abandoning the "Endurance", and to stress to his men how vital it was to reduce the weight the dogs must pull across the ice, Shackleton abandoned all but one of the following on the ice. Which of the following did Shackleton keep? Shackleton kept several gold sovereigns. He kept the Bible given to him by Queen Mother Alexandra of England. Shackleton kept his diary. He kept his gold watch.

8. After setting up Ocean Camp (as their first base on the ice floe was called) Shackleton taught the men to play which of the following games? Canasta In Grandma's Trunk Chess Bridge

9. To his face, Shackleton's men always called him "Boss", but which of the following did they call him behind his back? Old Cautious Old Ice Berg Ernest Old Ernest Sir Icy Heart

10. By the end of December, 1915, Shackleton decided to start westward across the ice with his men taking turns pulling two lifeboats saved from the "Endurance". The largest lifeboat was christened "James Caird" by Shackleton. Who was the "James Caird" named for? Shackleton named it after his sons: James and Caird. Sir James Caird was one of the expedition's chief financial backers. "James Caird" is the name of a lifeboat in the book "Moby Dick". It was named after the first man to ever see Antarctica.

11. After a week, travel on the ice became impossible. Shackleton halted his men, and a base camp called Patience Camp was set up. After the ice pack finally opened enough for the men to launch the boats on April 9, 1916 and escape by sea, the ice floe they had been living on had disintegrated to what size? 200 yards across One-mile across One-half mile across 50 yards across

12. True or False. When Shackleton and his men stepped onto Elephant Island on April 15, 1916, they were the first ones to do so. True False

13. After reaching Elephant Island, Shackleton realized that for his men to survive, he must see to their rescue himself. Which of the following did he do? Shackleton did not do anything, but an American whaler just happened by and picked them up. Shackleton and his men built a primitive radio transmitter and signaled for help. He and five others sailed 800 miles on "James Caird" and brought back help. He remained on Elephant Island and sent five men off for help in the "Dudley Docker".

14. Sir Ernest Shackleton's party were the first to ever cross South Georgia Island. True False

15. How many men of the "Endurance" survived their ordeal by ice and lived to tell their tale? Half of them died. All of them survived. Three of them died. Five of them died.