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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 Christ tell the guys about the music they are hearing?

2. In his fourth year what does Joe feel that is different?

3. How does Joe feel after the man who he has been talking to leaves?

4. What does Joe imagine the day nurse to look like?

5. What does Joe think is the key to figuring out time?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the prostitute that Joe thinks he loves handle the situation?

2. What does the little guy waiting for the train with Joe say? How does Joe answer him? What do they do then?

3. How does Joe envision his nurses?

4. What does a doctor do when Joe keeps tapping and what does Joe think is the reason why?

5. What did Lucky survive in America and how did she survive it?

6. What does Joe say every Allied nation expects?

7. What does the nurse think Joe wants at first when Joe starts tapping?

8. What does Joe think about to try and use his mind?

9. What does Joe imagine as he waits for the nurse to return and do you think he is overreacting?

10. Why does Joe feel a dread about time and what does he think he needs to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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."

Essay Topic 2

Joe thinks about how the doctor's have saved his life, but he rather than feeling appreciative, he is resentful and feels more like a science experiment. Discuss one of the following:

1. Elaborate on and analyze Joe's attitudes towards the doctors both at the field hospital and in his long term care facility.

2. Discuss the pros and cons of saving life at any cost, whether on the battlefield or otherwise.

3. One might think that doctors work harder to save young people because they are young and have not had a full lifespan, yet, in our culture, doctors often go to heroic efforts to save quite elderly persons, spending much resources for little return. Are their efforts "heroic"? Discuss fully.

Essay Topic 3

When Joe is boarding the train to go to boot camp after being drafted, he describes a scene of bands playing, flags waving and women and children calling out to their beloved husbands, sons, and brothers who are leaving for war. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think men (and now women also) are often sent off to war in an almost-festive-like atmosphere?

2. Does this send off make it harder or easier for Joe Bonham to march off to war? Explain.

3. If sending men and women off to war were treated like a funeral, do you think it would impact those leaving in a positive or negative way? Explain.

4. How would the political powers be impacted if war were viewed differently by a funeral-like send off?

(see the answer keys)

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