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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. In what month does Pocha leave Pantoja?

2. To whom does Pantoja send the lyrics to the song about the Special Service?

3. Olga is murdered because of men from what city?

4. How many men have attempted to kidnap a convoy of prostitutes at the end of Chapter 8?

5. In what dispatch does Pantoja say the SSGFRI has completed its first year?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why do Morey and several young men from Requena decide to kidnap prostitutes from the Special Service?

5. Describe "The Hymn of the Special Service."

6. How do other officers feel about Pantoja, according to Mendoza?

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

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

9. How does Olga die?

10. What information does Maclovia reveal during her radio interview that outrages listeners?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the author's use of comedy or humor in his novel. What instances of humor do you notice? Why do you think the author wrote his book with this tone in mind? Considering the subject matter, are you surprised by the lightheartedness of the novel as a whole?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the use of secondary characters in the novel. Why do you think the author introduces them all so soon in the narrative? What purpose might this serve? What purpose do the secondary characters serve? Why are there so many of them? What point is the author trying to make?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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