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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 smell reminds Billy of home?

2. Who is the spirit's channel at Ngea's seance?

3. In Part 3, Chapter 15, who does Billy live with that he knew in the past?

4. Where is Njiru when the headhunt is complete?

5. In Part 2, Chapter 11, how do the enlisted men spend their afternoons?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the responsibilities Billy has amassed, by Part 3, Chapter 15.

2. What is headhunting?

3. How long must Ngea's widow remain in mourning and what does the mourning entail?

4. Describe Dr. Rivers's dream about his sister Catherine in Part 2, Chapter 12.

5. What provokes Dr. Rivers's dreams of Njiru?

6. After Ngea's seance, what is left on Dr. Rivers's pillow? What does it signify?

7. What is ironic about Billy's death?

8. What smell brings Billy joy and why?

9. What are many of Dr. Rivers's patients seeing in Part 3, Chapter 16?

10. By Part 3, Chapter 16, why is Dr. Rivers one of the few doctors that remain practicing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Rivers suffered through an unhappy, but privileged childhood.

1) Analyze how Dr. Rivers's childhood experiences led to his desire to help others.

2) Does Dr. Rivers feel like a success? Why or why not?

3) How does dwelling on the past prevent Dr. Rivers from living in the present?

Essay Topic 2

Billy's is clear on what he does not want to do with his life, but less clear on what he does want to do.

1) What does Billy not want to do with his life?

2) What does Billy choose to do instead? How does this choice help him grow as a person? What responsibilities does it offer?

3) What positive character traits develop in Billy, due to this final experience in the war?

Essay Topic 3

Billy's infidelity defines his character in a way that is not just sexual.

1) Define infidelity.

2) Compare and contrast Billy's infidelity to himself as opposed to others.

3) How does Billy's infidelity lead to his demise?

(see the answer keys)

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