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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 former profession of the man Yamata contacts about the information regarding the Durling Administration?

2. What is the state of Japan when the novel begins?

3. What is the first step in Yamata's plan for responding to the Trade Reform Act?

4. Which of the following most accurately describe Goto?

5. What does Ryan realize about the U.S. military?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Yamata do with Goto's American mistress?

2. How do Ryan and Durling react to the news of Kimberly Norton's death?

3. What kind of software is Yamata developing in America?

4. What is Ryan's first operation in his new position? How successful is it?

5. How does Yamata act on the information he gains about the Durling administration?

6. What unusual rumor about Japan does FBI Director Bill Murray confirm?

7. Why is Ryan considered for the position of National Security Advisor?

8. Describe the first Japanese occupations and landings in the Pacific.

9. What is the general state of the world in terms of security when Ryan is made National Security Advisor?

10. How does Yamata react to the passing of the Trade Reform Act, and how successful is his plan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many characters in this novel are driven by a strong sense of duty towards their profession of their nation. These motivations are usually helpful, but cause problems for a few characters, and certainly cause many to expose themselves to more risk than they otherwise might.

Part 1) Explain Jack Ryan's sense of duty to his country. What responsibilities and risks does Ryan take in service to his country? Describe the personalities and behaviors of some other characters with similar senses of duty.

Part 2) Discuss the behaviors of characters who lack a real sense of duty. What ultimately happens to these characters? Do they generally occupy positions of great responsibility? What conclusions can be drawn from the differences between these people and characters more similar to Jack Ryan?

Part 3) Explain how Yamata's sense of duty affects his decisions. In the end, is Yamata true to his duty? How and why does this character trait negatively affect Yamata?

Essay Topic 2

In order to offer an effective counter to the Japanese military advances, Ryan constructs an intricate plan of attack. The plan makes the most of every available resource and requires the close coordination and cooperation of different forces in different areas. It requires both surprise and a great deal of secrecy, but it succeeds spectacularly.

Part 1) Discuss the United States' military goals and the resources available to obtain these goals.

Part 2) Explain Ryan's plan in detail, step-by-step.

Part 3) Describe the execution of the plan, detailing how successful the various aspects of it are, and how well the overall strategy comes together to achieve the United States' goals.

Provide support for your conclusions with quotes from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Secrecy is crucial to many of the operations planned and carried out in this novel. The author even keeps the reader in the dark about many of these plans until they are executed. This secrecy is achieved in different ways, and when this vital information is leaked, it causes major problems for both sides.

Part 1) Explain how secrecy is used by both sides for strategic advantage.

Part 2) Discuss the ways that both sides achieve and maintain secrecy. Compare and contrast their methods.

Part 3) Use examples from the book to illustrate how successfully maintaining secrecy over an operation can yield enormous results, and how leaked information causes immense problems.

Provide support for your conclusions with quotes from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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