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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. Where does Caputo notice the VC has cut the chain link fence to infiltrate the airfield?

2. What warning does Caputo receive after the destruction at Ha Na?

3. From where does the attrition in 1st Battalion come?

4. What job takes up most of Caputo's time as assistant adjutant?

5. What exhilarates Caputo after the Hoi-Vuc village wipe out?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Marines in Caputo's dream platoon.

2. What is the ridiculous hold up in getting the evac helicopters to the platoon?

3. Coming across a clearing, how does Caputo manage to get to the other side?

4. What is Caputo's opinion of Maj-Gen Lew Walt the night of the first VC assault on the battalion base camp?

5. Why does Caputo volunteer for the line?

6. What does Corporal Stasek say about the bodies the colonel wants left out for the clerks and General Thompson to see?

7. What are some of the contradictions Caputo itemizes about the war?

8. Why are the men of C Company pleased about the treats sent to them?

9. How does the platoon snap and go on a rampage/

10. How serious are the results of the assault?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There was a great deal of resistance to erecting the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D. C. Part of that was because many returning veterans, like Caputo, sympathized with the anti-war movement in America. Do some research on that movement and write your opinion about it. If you had lived in that time, which side of the argument would you have been on?

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper on the idealism of the young and inexperienced. Use Caputo and his platoon leaving Okinawa convinced they could end the war in a matter of days and the new arrivals of Battalion one-three as your examples. If possible relate that to some time in your life when you thought something might be a simple matter to solve even when more experienced people were telling you it was more difficult than you thought.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper on the need of many men to prove their manhood. Express your opinion as to why this is something Caputo mentions several times in the book. Besides war, what are ways some men choose to prove to themselves that they are real men? Express your opinion as to whether such behavior is necessary.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 773 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample