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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 is Downs spared from being caught and killed?

2. Who shoots at the soldier?

3. How many men are injured by a land mine at this time?

4. How many men are in the platoon at this time?

5. The patrol is sent out not to fight but to locate:

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the irony surrounding the major injuries sustained by Downs?

2. Who arrives to assist the soldiers? What happens during the operation?

3. Discuss Downs' state of mind at this stage of the war. What objections does Downs have about the way the mission is being operated?

4. What is the plan issued to Downs by Captain Sells?

5. What happens to a soldier from the Alpha Company's 3-6 platoon?

6. Explain what the author means by the genocidal aspect of the war. How does Downs justify this behavior?

7. Explain the trip to the area around the Tam Ky province. What is the general atmosphere of the area.

8. Explain the scene in which the Alpha Company engages in a large scale battle.

9. What incident takes place involving the seven civilians? What is the attitude of the soldiers on both sides?

10. How and why is Downs rewarded for his actions in the field?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Downs was among a long line of other soldiers wounded in the line of duty. Examine and discuss various types of wounds that are mentioned in the book. How were the majority of the wounds inflicted? What is the standard treatment of a non-serious wound? What is the standard treatment for a potentially fatal wound? Who attends to the soldiers when they are wounded? How common is it for doctors to be present and to take care of the wounds? When doctors are not around, who performs the work?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss in detail the facts and statistics about the Vietnam War. Why was there a war? Was it technically defined as a war? Explain. What were the reasons behind the US military involvement in Vietnam? How many soldiers were sent over? How many casualties were there? When did the war begin and end? What was proven? Who won?

Essay Topic 3

Interview someone who served in Vietnam and write a 1000 word essay on the experience and how it affected the soldier's life. Be sure to include any traumatic events, real or imagined as well as post traumatic stress, involvement with the VA, and life before and after the war.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 850 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample