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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. Gann learns that in one day, how many planes are lost trying to fly over the Hump?

2. Which notable military leader does Gann have the honor of flying?

3. Upon arrival in Iceland, the British Air Force tells Gann what action saved his plane from being found by enemy fighters?

4. After being transferred back to Natal, Gann spends the next few months on what type of routes?

5. By the time Gann's crew reaches Iceland, about how long have they been flying?

Short Essay Questions

1. Descibe Gann's sketchy takeoff scenario as he begins his flight on a C-54 for a long-haul mission.

2. What emergency causes Gann to have to land his plane on his flight from Steensville?

3. Who is Sloniger, and what is so special about him?

4. Which route does Gann return to after his leave of absence, and what does he do there?

5. How does O'Connor's crash-landing symbolize Gann's being stalked by fate?

6. What do the mechanics discover during their engine inspections that seem to be causing all the trouble on the DC-4?

7. What does Gann learn kept his flight safe on the way from Honolulu to Burbank despite the fact that they were missing a critical piece of equipment?

8. How does Gann describe his flights from California to Honolulu with the new airline he flies for?

9. What does Gann recall about his actions when he sees a plane crash on the runway in Assam?

10. The British Air Force tells Gann his flight was in danger as they approached Iceland. Why were they in danger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the characters that Gann interacts with in the story and compare and contrast Gann and that character. What are their similarities (if any)? What are their differences? How do they differ as pilots and as people?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Ernest Gann mentions being "stalked by fate." What does Gann mean by being "stalked by fate"? Give three different examples from the novel of situations where Gann notes that he has been "stalked by fate."

Essay Topic 3

We have studied the literary terms of protagonist and antagonist. Please define what a protagonist and antagonist are. Provide an example of each, and discuss the relationship between the two that causes one to be the protagonist of the story and the other to be an antagonist in the story.

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This section contains 754 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample