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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many years has it been since the war for the author, at the time of writing the novel?
(a) 30 years
(b) 2 years
(c) 10 years
(d) 20 years

2. What landmark was Tim able to recognize in the field where Kiowa died, years later?
(a) The small area where Lt. Cross had set up command post
(b) The place where his foxhole was
(c) The exact place where Kiowa was hit by a shell
(d) The landing area the men cleared for the chopper

3. What is Tim trying to save with a story?
(a) Linda's memory
(b) His own life
(c) Kathleen's education
(d) All of his war buddies' lives

4. How did Tim get the idea for the chapter titled "Speaking of Courage?"
(a) From his chat with Lt. Cross
(b) From a letter written by Norman Bowker
(c) From a newspaper article
(d) From a visit back to Vietnam

5. How could Kiowa be sure the man would have done harm to the platoon if Tim had not killed him?
(a) The man carried a supply of land mines
(b) The man carried dog tags of dead American soldiers
(c) The man carried letters of troop movements
(d) The man carried a gun and ammunition

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the narrator find relief from his feelings about the war?

2. What did Kiowa's father do?

3. How old was Tim when he first dealt with death?

4. What almost killed Tim?

5. How does Rat Kiley deal with the mission at first?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Tim's dilemma about how he killed a man on the trail outside My Khe.

2. What power do stories have for people dealing with death?

3. How do Henry Dobbins and Azar disagree about the girl's motive to dance?

4. How does Norman Bowker ultimately cope with returning home?

5. What is the purpose of the visit to the battlefield where Kiowa was killed?

6. What is unique about the movements required of Alpha Company for this chapter's mission?

7. What does Tim invent about the man he killed?

8. What does the dancing girl symbolize to you?

9. What two types of truth are there for the author and reader?

10. What happens to Tim after he kills the man in the path with a grenade?

(see the answer keys)

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