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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. In 1952, what does Lewis observe in the base pool that he finds fascinating?

2. Who is Corporal Watson?

3. In 1951, what does Lewis's father give him for his birthday?

4. What is Captain Thanh's opinion of Lewis's presence in Vietnam?

5. What is Marble Mountain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Captain Thanh's view of Lewis's presence in Vietnam?

2. How does Lewis prepare for entry into military life?

3. How does Lewis's college life contrast with his experiences in Officer Candidate School?

4. What opinion does Chesty have about the Marine Corps' training methods?

5. How does a local village take advantage of Lewis and his officers in Chapter 3?

6. How does Lewis's family react to his deployment to Vietnam?

7. How does Lewpy's birth affect Lewis?

8. How does Toddy's pregnancy affect Lewis's life?

9. Describe Paul Barents.

10. What does Lewis allow his men to do to an enemy corpse in Chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do Lewis and his platoon cope with the stress of war while in Vietnam? Why are their patrols rotated so often? What coping mechanisms does Lewis develop that he wishes he could have avoided?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the progression of Lewis's political views. What factors influence the change in his political views throughout the years? How and why do his views differ from his father's by the end of the book?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Lewis's life before and after the war. How do Lewis's perceptions about politics, the military, the purpose of life and other personal philosophies change from his college years through the war? How do these perceptions change after his injury?

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