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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. What cause of death does Doc Peret give for Billy Boy Watkins?

2. Which member of Third Squad jumps off the ship and disappears at the end of Chapter 38?

3. At the end of Chapter 44, what does Sarkin Aung Wan state at the beginning of her speech she is pleading for?

4. Why does Doc declare the Nazis and Japanese lost World War II?

5. Which two people stay in the apartment in Chapter 44, refusing to search for Cacciato?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Doc Peret have to admit to the Cacciato chase in Chapter 33?

2. Why does Third Squad intensify its search for Cacciato in Chapter 44?

3. How does Paul Berlin plan plan to cope with his fears in Chapter 31?

4. What does Buff's body look like when Cacciato finds it in Chapter 41?

5. What implied ultimatum does Sarkin Aung Wan make to Paul Berlin in Chapter 43?

6. Describe Captain Rhallon.

7. How does Third Squad escape execution in Chapter 36?

8. How does Paul Berlin characterize the true war stories he has in Chapter 42?

9. Describe the girl from California in Chapter 40.

10. How does Third Squad gain control of the VW van?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The action of Going After Cacciato is characterized by long stretches of quiet and peace punctuated by by moments of sudden frenzy and violent panic. Write an essay about the dynamic between quiet and panic, in three parts:

Part 1) Why does Third Squad stop dead in its tracks when it arrives in Delhi? How is Lieutenant Corson affected by the peace of the region, and how do the other men respond? What finally breaks the quiet?

Part 2) How does Paul Berlin settle into Paris life more completely than the rest of the Squad? How does he nearly forget about the War entirely? What finally breaks the quiet?

Part 3) Write a paragraph about the silent village the Squad happens upon? How does the quiet drive the men of Third Squad to the breaking point? What finally breaks the quiet?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the character of Sarkin Aung Wan. How does she first appear to the reader in the narrative, and what are her origins as a fictitious creation? Why does Paul Berlin feel the need to add her to his war story? What purpose does she serve in his life? Analyze their final debate determine her function in Paul Berlin's delusion.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout Going After Cacciato, both the author and the characters in the novel debate the reasons for American involvement in Vietnam. Write an essay about American interventionism, focusing on three instances in the narrative:

Part 1) In Tehran, Third Squad sits down for a drink with Captain Rhallon of the Iranian Savak. Why does he think America is having such a difficult time in Vietnam? How does Doc Peret respond to Rhallon's theory?

Part 2) Write a paragraph about Paul Berlin's promotion review for Spec Four. What reason does the unnamed major give for America's involvement in Vietnam? How does Paul Berlin respond to this?

Part 3) What hypothetical conversation does Paul Berlin hold with the young crying girl in a village Third Squad burned? What does he want to tell her about his reasons for coming to fight in her homeland?

(see the answer keys)

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