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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 tells the group at the hotel in Los Angeles that they will leave on a bus the next day?

2. Who drives Veronica to the Malibu house to see her lover?

3. Who does Pluto believe is more important than the CINCPAC analysts believe he is?

4. Who is McCoy's date that accompanies him to the saloon where he meets up with Banning?

5. In Brisbane, who does Pickering meet with to information on Captain Fertig?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Jake is assembling the personnel for the second war bond tour, what does he lack in knowledge about the pilots?

2. When Carstairs comes to talk to Dunn and Pick, what is the change in policy that he discusses with them?

3. What does Pick realize when he goes to the penthouse with Martha?

4. What does Pickering do to reassign people to work on the Philippines mission?

5. What does Pickering reveal that he knows about Ellen to her?

6. What is Banning and McCoy's meeting with their dates at the saloon like?

7. Why are Pick and Dunn rude to Jake at the airport?

8. When Dillon secures a release for McCoy and talks to Stewart, why is he concerned about Easterbrook?

9. Why does Pick panic about paved runaways when flying?

10. Why does Pickering meet with Willoughby to learn about Fertig?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Power in society is a prevailing theme of "Close Combat". Griffin frequently refers to this theme, painting the picture of military knowledge being rewarded by power. Which characters appear honest and which appear corrupt and why? Which characters appear to rise above corruption even if they were initially vulnerable to it? What is your opinion of the society that Griffin describes?

Essay Topic 2

Describe some of the settings for "Close Combat". What is the overall setting? How do the Solomon Islands change over time? How is San Francisco different from the depiction of San Diego? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Griffin choose to use these places in "Close Combat"?

Essay Topic 3

Politics play a significant role in the book. Griffin refers to the politics of American naval bases compared to that of aviation. Discuss the use of politics in the novel. How does politics influence the actions of the main characters of Pickering, Easterbrook, Pick, and others? Also examine the use of politics in relationships.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample