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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. In the evening, why are the peasant girls rushing down the road to their village?

2. How does Caputo describe his platoon?

3. What does Lemmon tell Caputo that Sullivan is doing when he gets shot?

4. What do the bar girls insist on before they will leave with a Marine?

5. How does Gonzales become the first casualty of Caputo's platoon?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Caputo and his 40-odd men get transported to the war zone?

2. Why does he say he fears being an unsat or a marginal?

3. Explain why Caputo says that at age twenty-four he is more prepared for death than he is for life.

4. What does Caputo recall when the helicopter he is in draws ground fire?

5. Describe the French Fort overlooking the paddies west of Hill 327.

6. When does Caputo have his first realization of someone trying to kill him?

7. What is Caputo's troublesome encounter with Sergeant Fred Wagoner?

8. How does Caputo mention perception and locale when talking about troop size?

9. What really causes the aloofness to Caputo at the base camp?

10. What is it like going back toward Charlie Ridge?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper on the morality of war. Express your opinion as to whether war has ever in the history of the world accomplished good. Add to your paper ideas about how wars may be avoided in the future.

Essay Topic 2

Imagine you were there in Caputo's platoon. Write a paper expressing your opinion of 2nd Lieutenant Caputo as he takes command of your platoon. Describe his personality and character as you see him from the point of view of an enlisted man or woman.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper about understanding different cultures. Use examples from the book to show that people of different cultures often do not understand each other. A good example is the old Vietnamese man trying to sell pornographic pictures to Caputo and his men. He, like so many Asians, had the idea that all Americans are addicted to sexual laxity and vulgarity. On the other hand, the Americans often could not understand the stoic nature of the Vietnamese who show little emotion regardless of circumstances.

(see the answer keys)

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