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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. How much of a chance does the sergeant state that Carl and Rico have of achieving their goals?

2. What does the MI not abandon?

3. Which of Rico's friends persuaded him to join the MI?

4. What does Rico claim his family is free of?

5. Who does Zim make an example of?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the best way to fight the Bugs?

2. In what way does the army make things tough for the recruits?

3. What does Rico's father want him to do instead of the army?

4. Summarize Chapter 1.

5. What is Rico's father's problem with Rico joining the army?

6. Summarize Chapter 3.

7. What is Rico's opinion of boot camp in retrospect?

8. What is the troop's mission?

9. How does Rico's promotion to recruit-corporal change his situation?

10. What are the benefits of joining the army?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Heinlein's representation of sergeants in fiction. Is he a typical sergeant in fiction? Do you think Heinlein's representation of Zim was influential? What other similar sergeants can they think of? How realistic do you think Heinlein's portrayal of a sergeant is?

Essay Topic 2

Starship Troopers is part of the science fiction genre.

1) What are the conventions of the science fiction genre in terms of character, language, and plot?

2) In what way did Starship Troopers help to set the template for similar novels? Do modern novels still use the ideas used in Starship Troopers?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the values of 1950s America.

1) Why was spirituality finding oneself such an issue during this time?

2) In what ways are the characters' negative characteristics a product of their time? Do you think America was going through a transitional phase in the fifties? What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3) Does modern society share any values with fifties America?

(see the answer keys)

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