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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 two kinds of drugs do the soldiers turn to?

2. Where is Herr working as a war correspondent?

3. Why does the young marine not show any mirth in his smile?

4. Who set the booby trap on the latrine?

5. What two emotions does Herr feel looking at pictures of dead people?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what the soldiers and correspondents pack when going into battle.

2. Who are Day Tripper and Mayhew? What does Herr do with them?

3. Why do you think the chaplain lies to the soldier whose legs have been blown off?

4. How does the news of Day Tripper and Mayhew affect Herr's time at China Beach?

5. Who is the Khe Sanh press secretary and what is his role in the Khe Sanh siege?

6. Discuss the story about the soldier who is rewarded for killing more enemy and rescuing more prisoners than he actually did.

7. Describe the condition "shell shock." Why do parents fear their sons will come home with it and why do soldiers with it not want to return home?

8. What are the two realities of Vietnam and how do they differ?

9. How does the image of the World War II correspondent typing by candlelight relate to the Marines diverse views regarding war correspondents?

10. Discuss Page's wound and his recovery.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the truth of the war. The soldiers fight battles that are not won or lost but are reported as victories. What do you make of the officials decisions to lie about the real course of the war? What effect do the lies have on the soldiers? How does the lack of honesty affect the American public's impression of the war?

Essay Topic 2

Major Trong does not tell Herr who the last emperor of Vietnam was but states that he is the new emperor. How does his statement affect Herr and the war? What do you make of Trong's refusal to answer Herr's question? Do you think Trong's statement is one based on truth or on greed for power?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the geographical designations of Vietnam with the military names assigned to the areas. How do the military names further destroy the country of Vietnam? Why do you think that the military felt the need to assign names to the four main regions of Vietnam?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,214 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample