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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. Who is the highest ranking soldier among Richie's squad?

2. What does Richie tell Kenny in the letter he writes about the Vietcong soldier?

3. What type of soldier does the new lieutenant like to put in the most dangerous military positions?

4. What happens when the soldiers realize that the war will not be ending anytime soon?

5. Where do Richie and Peewee make their way to after being separated from the squad?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is with Brew when he dies?

2. When does Richie realize that Johnson would have been a natural-born leader?

3. How does Richie kill his first Vietcong soldier, and what is his reaction to the killing?

4. How do the American soldiers prepare the bodies of their fallen soldiers so that the enemy cannot mutilate them?

5. What letter does Gearhart give to Richie and Walowick to hold onto?

6. What race relation issues come to light during the time of Vietnamese Tet?

7. What does Richie do with his Purple Heart?

8. How does Monaco escape the clutches of the Vietnamese soldiers?

9. Why do the rescue choppers open fire on the Vietnamese allies?

10. What power struggle arises between Johnson and Stewart in the battlefield of the reclaimed hill?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout this novel, the theme of innocence is presented through the soldiers' naivety. Briefly describe one scene that highlights the innocence of one or more of the soldiers. Then describe the way that the novel functions as a testament to the loss of youth through war.

Essay Topic 2

When Richie enters the army, he has firm beliefs of what his tour on duty will be like. Throughout his time in Vietnam, Richie's views about war changes many more times. Describe the way that Richie thought the war would be like when he entered the service, and then briefly describe the ways that his views of fighting changed over his time in Vietnam.

Essay Topic 3

In the beginning of the novel, Rings makes a bizarre offer to RIchie and Peewee in order to cement their brotherhood.

Part 1) Describe the offer that RIngs presented and his reasoning behind it.

Part 2) Explain the ritual that Peewee and Richie partook in to cement their own brotherhood.

Part 3) Explain the way that Peewee and RIchie's ritual stuck with them throughout their time in war, and what it meant to them.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 872 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample