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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How far is Rico out of position?

2. What does Rico hope to hit with the bombs?

3. What is the penalty if Rico changes his mind?

4. What is the name of the recruits martial arts instructor?

5. How many days does it take before Rico knows he will not be a pilot?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the release of the capsules in Chapter 1.

2. Describe Ace and Rico's fight.

3. Describe Sergeant Zim.

4. In what way does the army make things tough for the recruits?

5. What is Rico's father's problem with Rico joining the army?

6. How does Zim react to the people who challenge him?

7. In what ways does training becoming harder in Chapter 4?

8. Why does the fleet sergeant discourage the two boys from joining the army?

9. What does Jejal tell his troops?

10. What does Rico's father want him to do instead of the army?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the flogging have such an adverse affect on the other soldiers? Do the students think the flogging was as much to prove a point to everybody as it was to punish Hendrick? Do you think that Hendrick's conduct deserved such a punishment? Why did they not just throw him out of the army?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Heinlein use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure; exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution, and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character Henderson, examine the way Heinlein uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the values of 1950s America.

1) Why was spirituality finding oneself such an issue during this time?

2) In what ways are the characters' negative characteristics a product of their time? Do you think America was going through a transitional phase in the fifties? What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3) Does modern society share any values with fifties America?

(see the answer keys)

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