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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 about two hundred yards away from the village?

2. What is the misconception the platoon has when they are deployed to Vietnam?

3. What does Caputo say he learns later about the war in Vietnam?

4. What is to be the measure of victory in the battle?

5. Why is it difficult to round up the platoon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the news that makes Caputo sorry he is not there instead of being in Okinawa?

2. Explain what Caputo says is the worst thing about hiking in the jungle.

3. Describe the Ruff-Puff's activity around the Beau Geste watchtowers.

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

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

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

7. Describe the Communist stronghold that Caputo first sees in Vietnam.

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

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

10. What is the advantage on Hill 268 where Caputo's company is poistioned?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discomfort is never pleasant. Using the book, write about some of the worst situations in terms of comfort and express your opinion about how well you would deal with them. Some examples you might use are the leeches, immersion foot, sleeping in several inches of water in a foxhole, trying to sleep with large artillery going off all night, having only C Rations to eat, etc.

Essay Topic 3

Using the colonel who had bodies dug up to show a visiting general and the colonel who wanted his horseshoe pitch done during preparations for a VC offensive, discuss in a paper how some people rise to the top without having the necessary qualifications. Discuss in the paper whether you think this is a phenomenon limited to the military.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 765 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample