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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 does Joe do when Harper tells him Diane went out with Hogan?

2. What happens when Joe tries to yell?

3. What does Joe wonder about when he thinks of the foxhole?

4. What does Joe decide when he first figures out he has no arms?

5. What does Joe think is the only important thing he has left?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the pilot who comes to Joe's hometown, what does he do and what does the superintendent of schools say about airplanes?

2. Describe how Joe is feeling while working in the desert.

3. How does Joe realize he has no left arm and how does he feel about it?

4. What book did Joe read that gave him a nightmare and what was that nightmare?

5. Where does Joe see Jose while he's lying in bed, what does he ask him and what does Joe figure out?

6. How does Joe think he might be able to tell being awake and asleep with no eyes?

7. Why does Joe think being the way he is is worse than being in the womb?

8. How does Joe come to know he has no face?

9. What does Joe think about doctors and war?

10. What doesn't Joe understand about being alive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Communication is usually taken for granted by most people. In his very injured state, Joe is unable to communicate for many months. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare and contrast Joe's ways of communication before and after his war injury. In what ways does his personality come through even after he is injured?

2. Discuss how Joe compensates for not being able to communicate. What do you think Joe would have done had he never figured out a way to communicate?

3. When Joe's "captors" realize his views about war, what do they do to keep Joe from communicating? How do you think this would ultimately affect Joe long term?

Essay Topic 2

War is one of the most common occurrences in the history of humankind. Discuss one of the following:

1. Analyze how Joe feels about WWI. Are his feelings typical of others in the book? Are his beliefs about the war justifiable? Explain with examples.

2. Does your belief about WWI change as you read this book? What about your beliefs about war in general? Explain with examples from the text and your own experience.

3. Many resources throughout the ages have been used in the pursuit of war-related activities. Does the war in this book justify the loss of life and resources? Why or why not? Does any war justify the same?

Essay Topic 3

In one of the first chapters, Joe Bonham is thinking about an airplane that comes to town when he is young and the wonderful thing that it is. Discuss the following:

1. Contrast the theme of flying and the freedom it suggests to Joe's situation.

2. What kind of freedom is possible for someone in Joe's post-injury life?

3. WWI is, in a sense, fought over the concept of freedom. Discuss the irony of Joe fighting in a war for "freedom."

(see the answer keys)

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