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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. What happens for about twenty-five of the men?

2. What do Caputo and his platoon have in common?

3. What is the result for half of the men after they return from Cinderella Liberty?

4. What mistake does 2d Lt. Caputo make on a training exercise that gets him a reprimand?

5. What do they hear about right away?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Caputo sense at his old base camp when he goes to collect his belongings?

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

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

6. What always comes to Caputo's mind when he thinks of basic training?

7. What happens to the machine-gunner named Parker as they wait for a convoy?

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

9. After a group of VC disappears once again, what does Caputo want to believe?

10. Describe the platoon sergeant, William Campbell.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hatred is mentioned several times in the book. It often takes over when circumstances are frustrating and there appears to be nothing anyone can do about it. Write how the Marines in Vietnam often felt this way when they knew more about what was going on than the men safely back at HQ who were planning the moves of the war.

Essay Topic 2

Self-preservation is a big consideration for anyone. In the case of Vietnam, there was no way to look at a person and know if he or she was South Vietnamese or VietCong. Write your opinion about the moral dilemma of having to make such a determination and whether it is right to err on the side of personal safety.

Essay Topic 3

Do a creative writing piece in which you are a private or corporal in the military, sitting in a cane field at night, listening to the moans of fellow military men because the Medivac helicopters cannot get to you and the company medic has no morphine for the pain. Be sure to express your deepest feelings and frustrations.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 740 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample