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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 branch of the military is Pantoja employed with?

2. What is The Brothers of the Ark?

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

4. What is the new name of the hydroplane that Pantoja and the Special Service are allowed to use?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Pantoja's job in Iquitos?

3. What do Pocha and Alicia spend their time doing?

4. Where does Pantoja's family hope he relocates?

5. What is Dispatch Number One?

6. How has Pocha adapted to life in Iquitos?

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

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

9. What is the success level of the Special Service's pilot mission?

10. What signs of growth in the Special Service are shown in Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of Olga's murder to the rest of the novel? Why do you think Olga is killed off in the story? Are you surprised by her fate? Why or why not? How does her murder move the plot of the story along? Do you think it is significant that her murder is the result of a botched plan to kidnap and rape her? Why do you think Vargas Llosa chooses to kill her this way and not actually be purposefully be murdered by Moray and his men?

Essay Topic 2

Explore Pantoja's straight-laced nature at the start of the book. Describe two instances in which Pantoja shows himself to be straight-laced. Knowing Pantoja is prudish and does everything by the book, why does Army choose him to run their operation? Why does this prudish nature work both for and against him?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the use of names in the book. Consider the names Vargas Llosa gives his characters. Which ones stand out to you the most? Why? Why do you think the author gives his characters such colorful names? What sort of tone do these interesting names add to the book?

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