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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. Who sees Pantoja out on the town with Olga?

2. What crimes are soldiers committing in the Amazon jungle?

3. What is the name of the man that will head the Navy ship that Pantoja and the Special Service are allowed to use?

4. What physical condition does Freckle have?

5. Where does Leonor hope Pantoja's assignment will take them?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pocha say in a letter to her sister Chichi in Chapter 3?

2. Why is Mother Leonor having a hard time in Iquitos?

3. What does Pocha tell Chichi about Leonor's following of Brother Fransisco?

4. How has Pocha adapted to life in Iquitos?

5. What have Poncio and his devotees been working on?

6. What happens when Sinchi, a popular local radio personality, visits the command post for the first time to have a discussion with Pantoja?

7. Why does it take Pantoja and his crew a week to turn the Itaya depot into a suitable work space?

8. Describe the nightmare Pantoja has about the Special Services in Chapter 2.

9. Why is Pantoja happy at the beginning of Chapter 5?

10. What is Dispatch Number 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the use of foreshadowing in Pocha's letter to her little sister. What does she think is happening with Pantoja? Why does she seem to have this bad feeling? What techniques does the author use to let the reader know this is foreshadowing and not just character development for Pocha? How does her foreshadowing eventually come to fruition?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the circular narrative of the ending. Why do you think Pantoja's life goes back to normal in the end? What do you think he has learned from this whole experience? Were you surprised by the ending? What do you think the author is trying to say with this ending?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of the way Olga is portrayed through a series of newspaper articles? How is she depicted in these articles? Explore the contradictions around her portrayal? How has Olga been portrayed in the novel prior to the newspaper articles? Does your opinion of her change at all after reading this chapter? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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