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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 does Pocha tell a local radio show host to interview?

2. What is the name of the newspaper that reports Olga's death?

3. In Chapter 6, the number of prostitutes in the Special Service increases to what?

4. A radio host tells his listeners about a famous landmark designed by a man from what country?

5. Who asks Pantoja to come work for them after the Special Service is shut down?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Chuchupe and Wong try to convince Pantoja to leave the military and go into business with them?

2. How does Sinchi react when he finds out Pantoja is in the military?

3. What does a supposedly anonymous letter from Sinchi to Panjota say?

4. What happens when Pantoja requests that Morey and the other men from Requena be brought before a military tribunal and tried for their crimes?

5. How does Morey try to cover up Olga's murder?

6. What does Beltrán want to leave the Army?

7. How do members of the Army feel about Brother Francisco?

8. What happens to a couple that elopes in Chapter 6?

9. What does a letter to Sinchi from disgruntled citizens say?

10. Describe Pantoja's relationship with Olga.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of the formal tone used in Pantoja's communications with his superiors? What are some examples of the formality of Pantoja's tone in his memos? Why do you think the author has his character use this formal tone, especially given the subject matter of sex? What goal is he trying accomplish with his narration?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What is the significance of the dream Pantoja has in which Olga becomes his wife? How does this dream seem to affect him while he is having it? What is the overall tone of the dream? How does he seem to feel about the women in his life in the dream? Why do you think the dream contains several instances of mistaken identity?

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