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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. Which character dies in this chapter?

2. What will Rico not have if he quits?

3. How many hours of sack time do the recruits have?

4. Why are pilots mostly women?

5. What is Rico ready to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the three types of suits.

2. Describe Sergeant Zim.

3. What is the troop's mission?

4. How does Zim react to the people who challenge him?

5. How do the MIs respond to the loss of Breckenbridge?

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

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

8. Why does the fleet sergeant discourage the two boys from joining the army?

9. Summarize Chapter 3.

10. Why are the bugs so difficult to fight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Heinlein use character and setting to express these themes?

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

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?

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