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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. Why does Pickering want Banning to be added to the Magic messages list?

2. Where does Pickering go directly upon landing at Pensacola Naval Air Station?

3. What does the man from question #139 tell Banning?

4. What is Ellen wearing when she opens the hotel door to Pickering's knock?

5. What supply lines are the Japanese threatening?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does McInerney see with Galloway at the Willard Hotel?

2. What does Jane Marwood tell Barbara her new orders are and how much does she know about them?

3. What is in the letter Pickering sends to Knox in which he also has a request about Banning?

4. What does Pickering send to Knox from Melbourne and what is his situation with MacArthur?

5. What does McInerney want Galloway to do and how does Holcomb respond to that idea?

6. What happens when Macklin asks for volunteers for a dangerous mission?

7. What does Stecker tell Banning when they meet about Banning's organization?

8. What happens when Galloway meets Ward and Schneider at the Officer's Club at Quantico?

9. Why is Koffler being dropped behind enemy lines?

10. Who does Koffler see at the Elms and what do they discuss?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particular leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader/commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader/commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read, and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The military way of life is in and of itself similar to a distinct culture. Understanding how the military is organized, how it operates, and its basic rules of conduct will make any novel that centers on the military more understandable and enjoyable. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe and analyze the military structure during the time of Counterattack. What is rank? What is the difference between officers and enlisted men? How serious is it to disobey an order? What happens if one decides he does not like being in the military and walks away? How are men drafted?

2. Compare the infantry of Counterattack to that in modern times in for the United States. What are the similarities? The differences? Are the changes from those times improvements? Why or why not? (This question will require some research).

3. Discuss why you think the military has the following: uniforms, a rank structure of Officers and Enlisted, strict discipline, training for new recruits, court martial, and different types of companies (i.e., rifle, Cavalry, artillery, etc). Discuss why you think men (and nowadays women) choose to become professional soldiers.

Essay Topic 3

Counterattack is one book in a series of novels involving McCoy and the other characters. Discuss the following.

1. What are two advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

2. What is a disadvantage of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

3. Do you prefer to read a stand-alone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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