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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. To what country is Richie sent to fight in the army?

2. What does Brew hope to become when he gets out of the army?

3. Why does Peewee enjoy his time in the army?

4. Which soldier approaches Richie to confess that he believes he is responsible for their leader's death during the ambush?

5. In what state does Richard Perry live as a high school student?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Captain Stewart change about Monaco's kill report, and why?

2. How do the more experienced soldiers feel when they see the new soldiers arriving?

3. Why does Jenkins say that he has joined the army, and what is his fear of war?

4. While they are on patrol together, what does Richie tell Lobel about his letter-writing problems, and what is Lobel's response?

5. Before the troops see any action, what does Richie think about the fighting?

6. What happens when the new soldiers meet Johnson?

7. What reasons drew Richie into joining the army?

8. Why does Richard Perry decide to join the army?

9. Why does Peewee ask Richie to write a letter to Earlene on his behalf?

10. What is Richie's response to seeing his first dead enemy soldier?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of the soldiers in the novel have big dreams for themselves when they get out of the army. Choose three soldiers from Richie's squad and explain what their dreams for the future are. Then, explain how these dreams affected the soldiers' performance in battle.

Essay Topic 2

Richie's medical records float through the novel, appearing regularly to remind the reader how unorganized then military office is during the war. Briefly explain what the medical records meant to Richie, and how their inability to be locked down led the reader to see the chaos and uncertainty of war.

Essay Topic 3

Even though race was a major issue with many of the soldiers in Richie's squad, the frost between the races began to thaw as the novel progressed.

Part 1) Explain the division of race that was present when Richie first entered his squad.

Part 2) Describe the ways that the tension between the races began to dissipate as the novel progressed.

Part 3) Explain why race cannot be a factor when a military squad is in battle.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 862 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample