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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. When Peewee is joking that he didn't know he was in Vietnam, where does he joke that he thinks he is?

2. How long do Peewee and Richie wait before receiving their camp assignment?

3. What is Judy Duncan's occupation?

4. To keep his mind off of the fears of dying, what does Richie fantasize about while fighting?

5. Which of the following does Richie NOT wonder about the dead Vietcong soldier?

Short Essay Questions

1. After returning from a Vietnamese village, what does Sergeant Simpson tell the troops Captain Stewart?

2. What footage do the soldiers watch after the ambush, and what is their reaction?

3. What happens when the new soldiers meet Johnson?

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

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

6. What happens when Richie sees the body bags lined up at his base?

7. What advice does Walowick give to Richie in regard to the dead Vietcong soldier?

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

9. What happens to the soldiers while they are on a layover in Osaka, Japan?

10. Who is Rings, and what does he suggest that Richie and Peewee do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The dog tags of the soldiers are powerful symbols for their identification in the military. Describe the ways that the dog tags are used throughout the novel and explain the significance of the moment when all the dog tags of the fallen soldiers are lost.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, many myths of what happens to a good, or strong, soldier are presented. Chose two military myths that were presented in the novel, and explain the ways that the reality of war in Richie's experience dispelled those myths.

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This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample