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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. After the trauma of visiting the recently pacified Vietnamese village, whose bed does Richie sleep in for comfort?

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

3. Which soldier is approached by Lt. Dongan asking if Lobel is a homosexual?

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

5. Which soldier freezes in sudden panic and needs Gearhart to scream him back into obedience?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is with Brew when he dies?

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

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

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

5. How are Richie and Peewee separated from the rest of their troop?

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

7. What do the American soldiers see when they return to the village in Vietnam that they had recently tried to pacify?

8. Where do Richie and Peewee spend the night when they are separated from their squad, and how do they find their way there?

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

10. How does Richie explain the shooting of the Vietcong soldier to his brother, Kenny?

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

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 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)

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