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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 does Koffler do when he gets home?

2. What does Stecker give Howard the night he is having dinner with Barbara?

3. What rank does Dillon have in the Marines?

4. What is the name of the hotel chain Pickering's father owns?

5. Why is Charley determined to maintain a good service record?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Steve Koffler doing in Lakehurst, how does he feel about it, and why is he doing it?

2. What do Knox and Pickering talk about after Pickering answers Knox's initial inquiry?

3. Describe Koffler's visit home the first day.

4. Who is Franklin Neville and on what subject is he an expert? What has he written on the subject?

5. What happens with Howard and Barbara when they go for dinner?

6. Why is Neville going to Lakehurst and what happens when he first arrives? What does he tell the pilot of the plane?

7. What was Charley determined to do during his first few years in service?

8. What does Charley do when he puts together and aircraft, and what is the end result?

9. When does Neville board the plane and what happens to him?

10. Why is Charley Galloway's flight status changed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pickering has an affair with Ellen in spite of being married.

1. In most circles, Pickering 's involvement with Ellen would be called adultery. Do you think the life and death situation of war makes adultery more likely? Why or why not? Use examples from your own knowledge and or the book to illustrate your answer.

2. Pickering is an officer and a "gentleman" who has just received promotion to major. Discuss how the act of adultery fits with the idea of an officer and a "gentleman".

3. Pickering is an intelligence officer and as such would most likely have a top secret security clearance. In the modern army, personnel who commit adultery will often lose their clearance. Why do you think this is so? Do you think someone's morals should affect whether they have a security clearance? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Counterattack a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 3

Politics and manipulation influence much of what happens in Counterattack. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe the political situation in Counterattack and how it impacts the actions of three of the major characters.

2. Discuss and analyze several people who try to manipulate Koffler and his responses to them.

3. Discuss how and why Macklin's behavior is related to politics and why his behavior is an example of manipulation. Use examples from the book to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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