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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 Richie is pondering his own death, who does he wonder will miss him?

2. What does Jenkins tell Richie that he fears about being in the army?

3. What medical problem does Richie come down with, prompting him to take several days off to recover?

4. What city is Peewee from?

5. During the slow days, what reports do the soldiers listen to on the radio?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Richie's knee, and why is he still sent to Vietnam?

2. What reasons drew Richie into joining the army?

3. Why does Lobel feel that he is responsible for Lieutenant Carroll's death, and how does Richie console him?

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

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

6. What happens when Richie is out on patrol with the Charlie Company?

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

8. In Chapter 1, what sounds does Richie hear when he falls asleep at night, and how does he comfort himself in Vietnam?

9. What news does Peewee receive from home in a letter from Earlene?

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

All of the soldiers see great traumas during their time in Vietnam, and each of the soldiers has their own coping mechanism. Choose two soldiers from the novel describe the scenes that most affected them during their time in service. Then, briefly compare/contrast their coping mechanisms.

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

In the novel, the reader sees Richie's view of family shift after he makes relationships with other soldiers in his squad.

Part 1) Describe Richie's relationship with his family back home before he enlists in the army.

Part 2) Describe the fantasies that Richie has about family while he is in Vietnam.

Part 3) Describe the way that Peewee, and other soldiers in the squad, fill in for blood family while Richie is away.

(see the answer keys)

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