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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 is the number of the compromised airstrip?

2. What blocks the boat from leaving the harbor?

3. What is the alias on Cortez's passport?

4. What is the first name of the secretary to the Director of the FBI?

5. Where do the men meet?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the scenario in which Wegener and his crew come across the Empire Builder.

2. Describe Wegener and his reputation in the Coast Guard.

3. What is Wegener's reaction to the attitudes of the prisoners? Where are the prisoners taken to talk to Wegener?

4. Who attends the meeting in the FBI Director's office? What is discussed? How much money is involved in this newest development?

5. What decision is made by Cutter, Moore, Jacobs and the President in the Oval Office? What is Jacobs' opinion? How does it affect Ryan?

6. What operation does Director Jacobs discuss with Moira as he dictates details? What is the nature of the operation? What is its code name?

7. What somber discussion takes place between Ryan, Ritter and Moore? Who does the conversation involve?

8. Examine the scene in which the reader is introduced to CIA agent Clark. Describe Clark.

9. Cutter and Ritter plan for another operation to coincide with SHOWBOAT. What is the second operation and what is the purpose of each?

10. What is given to the men of SHOWBOAT before they are deployed to the helicopters? What are they instructed to leave behind?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a great deal of political intrigue and international criminal activity involved in the book. This is a common theme for Tom Clancy. Write about Clancy's work. What other books involve Jack Ryan and/or similar themes to the ones presented in "Clear and Present Danger?" Why do you think Clancy is so fascinated with terrorists and international intrigue? What is Clancy's background? How many books has Clancy written? Have you ever read any of Clancy's other books?

Essay Topic 2

Ramon and Jesus, the men who murdered the family aboard the Empire Builder, are referred to as "pirates" throughout the book. Why are the men referred to as pirates? How can someone identify a modern day pirate? What does a pirate do? Are pirates typically dangerous? What were Ramon and Jesus after when they boarded the Empire Builder? What is the typical punishment for piracy? How do the laws change if the activity takes place in international waters? What agencies have the right to apprehend the pirates?

Essay Topic 3

Felix Cortez, aka Juan Diaz, approaches Moira Wolfe on a romantic level in order to gain information about the FBI Director's travel itinerary. Moira openly discusses Operation TARPON after the details of the operation have been released to the public. What information does Moira inadvertently give away? Does Cortez trick Moira or does he come by the information organically? Is Moira ever suspicious of Cortez? When does Moira find out Cortez's true intentions? What do you think caused someone in Moira's position to make such a fatal mistake? Was Moira being naïve or was Cortez incredibly clever? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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