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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. Rioalto and Caiguas are noted as having a certain indifference toward what type of people?

2. On what day of the month is the Special Services' pilot mission?

3. What is Lopez Lopez's first name?

4. What is Olga's last name?

5. What are the official colors of Pantoja's special service?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Pantoja sample strange drinks and concoctions?

2. What problems does Pocha tell Chichi she is having with Pantoja?

3. Why are Pantoja's coworkers concerned about him spending time with a woman named Olga?

4. Why are people in Moronacocha heralding a young boy as a martyr?

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

6. Why does Pochita think Pantoja is up to no good after their first night in Iquitos?

7. Why is Captain Pantoja being relocated in Chapter 1?

8. What is Dispatch Number One?

9. What is the issue that Pantoja is being sent to the small city of Iquitos to handle?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the way Pantoja's sense of family seems to change throughout the novel. Where do his priorities lie? Describe Pantoja's relationship with his coworkers in the Special Service. What is their dynamic? How does his relationship with his relatives change throughout the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the author's use of written correspondences in the novel. Describe two instances where the author makes use of letters or memos. What purpose do they serve for the reader? Why do you think the author employs so many of them as opposed to writing in traditional narrative style?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of the army's inability to keep the Secret Service a secret? When does it become clear that the mission is no longer being kept a tight secret? What seems to be the reason the secret gets out? Why do you think the army keeps adding more and more people to the circle of people who know about the mission? Why do you think they are not being more careful?

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This section contains 906 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample