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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. Whose decision is it to extend the troop's tour of duty for an additional thirty days?

2. What do the Vietnamese allies want the American troops to help them capture?

3. What do the American soldiers do to the bodies of their dead soldiers to prevent the enemy from mutilating them?

4. What does Richie think that his time in the hospital has done to him?

5. What offer does Gearhart give the soldiers to keep them safe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What offer does Gearhart make for the troops, when it is realized that the squads are unequally staffed?

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

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

4. What is the reaction among the troops when the newspaper arrives with photos of war protesters burning their draft cards?

5. What happens when the allies bring in a Vietnamese mother and her two small children found wandering around the rice paddies?

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

7. What conversation does Richie get into with Johnson about the war protesters?

8. How does it come to be that Richie is shot?

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

10. Who is with Brew when he dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The idea of heroism is present alongside the romanticism of soldiers. Choose two soldiers in the novel and describe the vocalizations these soldiers raise about heroism. Then, compare/contrast those vocalizations to the actual reactions the soldier see when they are faced with moments of heroism.

Essay Topic 3

All of the soldiers in Richie's squad have joined the army for very different reasons. Choose three soldiers from Richie's squad and briefly describe their reasons for joining the army. Then, explain how those motivations affected the soldier's performance in battle.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 873 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample