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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. Why does Sharpe do as he is told?

2. What does Sharpe do with the American prisoners?

3. On whom's ship is Sharpe called to plan his mission?

4. Why can't the Marines do the mission Sharpe is assigned?

5. Why is Killick intervening in the battle at Teste de Buch?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Killick think the British will do, how much experience does he have with fighting on land and what worries him the most?

2. Where does Killick move his cannon, how does he feel about his intervention and why is he doing it?

3. To where do the British advance in Chapter 1 and 2 and what do they decide to do next?

4. How is Killick's ambush neutralized?

5. What does an English frigate do about the Teste de Buch and how does Lassan respond?

6. What does Killick decide to do with the British coming?

7. What does Lassan do to help him make a decision about his defense?

8. What plan does Sharpe use to get into the fortress?

9. What do the various officers Sharpe meets with think about what the British should do?

10. Describe the recent event just preceding this book.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The English decide a temporary bridge must be constructed, using dozens of small ships as a system of support. To this end, the British Navy begins to capture dozens of small vessels. A large number of suitable craft is located near Gujan, and a naval expedition led by Captain Horace Bampfylde is organized. The British army decides that a diversionary action is also needed to divert French forces from the river crossing site; to this end, they decide on a military feint near Gujan; the two missions will be launched simultaneously. A sympathetic superior officer, Colonel Elphinstone, bluntly states that Sharpe has been selected as a sacrificial lamb. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the British command believes the loss of the Sharpe's Company in a battle against hopeless odds is acceptable? Do you think Sharpe would have followed orders to take his men to divert the French had he known the odds were so overwhelming? Explain with examples.

2. Many wars are fought under the assumption of "acceptable losses." Usually it is the common foot soldier who is doing most of the dying. In fact, the term "cannon fodder," is often used to describe infantry who are killed by the hundreds gaining small hills or bits of land, sometimes to lose the same piece of "real estate" several times with continuing loss of life. Is this truly acceptable?

3. Sometimes some will say that wars would be few and far between if those who decided to go to war had to be in the front lines. Do you think that would make a difference?

Essay Topic 2

Along with treason, another detestable action is spying. Spies are not considered in the same vein as soldiers in uniform and are not protected by the customs and regulations that govern the treatment of soldiers who are in uniform when captured. Comte de Marquerre is a French spy and suffers eventual death at the hands of Sharpe. Discuss one of the following:

1. Why do you think spies are not accorded any rights under many countries' laws and customs?

2. Even though all countries abhor spies, often even their own, they still spy, and men and women are still willing to be spies. Discuss why you think this is so.

3. Research and analyze the history of spying in either England, the United States, or Russa.

Essay Topic 3

In any book centered around the military, leadership of the troops is often crucial with the better leaders able to command the respect and loyalty of their men. The men's willingness to follow a particularly leader can have a decisive impact upon the success of a mission. Discuss the following:

1. Whose command style seems most effective? Analyze the elements of those effective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the good leaders. What makes an excellent leader or commander? Give examples.

2. Whose command style seems most ineffective? Analyze the elements of those ineffective leaders thoroughly and discuss the traits of the poor leaders. What makes a poor leader or commander? Give examples.

3. Is disobeying a poor leader ever justifiable? Explain using details from the text, other books you have read and your personal experience. In times of war, disobeying an order can be punishable by death. Is this harsh sentence justifiable for such an act? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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