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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. For how many days are SSFGRI personnel stranded because of weather?

2. Who has a dream where animals eat each other, in Chapter 10?

3. How does Brother Francisco die?

4. Pantoja tells the Special Service workers that all he ever wanted to do is what?

5. Who tells Pantoja that there was a rumor circulating that he and Pantoja were lovers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Panjota feel like his military career is in shambles?

2. How does Maclovia behave during her radio interview with Sinchi?

3. What happens at the end of Chapter 8 when news of the Special Service starts to spread?

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

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

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

7. Describe Leonor's dream at the beginning of Chapter 10.

8. How do the people in Pantoja's life react to him giving Olga's eulogy?

9. What does Sinchi say about Pantoja on-air the first time he talks about him?

10. What is the "House of Iron"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

Explore the character Sinchi and his role in the novel. How does he relate to other characters? What narrative function does he serve? What is the significance of his hypocrisy and his manipulative personality? What does the author seem to be saying through his character?

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