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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 did Kerry injure himself during his time with the skimmer?

2. Why does O'Neill think Kerry agreed to serve in Vietnam?

3. Why did Kerry most likely agree to debate O'Neill on the Dick Cavett Show?

4. How does William Franke, who served with Kerry, describe his attitude about serving?

5. How did the Committee reply to O'Neill's request?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Captain Plumly report about Kerry's service, and how does that correspond to the reports of his trips to Saigon?

2. How did O'Neill finally have the chance to debate Kerry in 1971?

3. What did O'Neill first do to challenge Kerry on his testimony, and how did Kerry respond?

4. What is the significance of O'Neill's suggestion that the readers of the book view the video of the debate between him and Kerry?

5. How did Kerry initially try to avoid serving in the war?

6. How did the assignment of the Swift Boats change, what was Kerry's response, and why did the other officers consider him to be a problem?

7. What happened in the infamous sampan incident, where a mother and her child were found, and how did Kerry respond?

8. What was the length of a normal tour of duty, how did Kerry's time in the war compare to it, and how did the other officers regard his actions?

9. What question did Lt. Ted Peck ask of Kerry shortly after he returned home, and why is Kerry's response revealing?

10. How was Kerry awarded the Silver Star?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

O'Neill's opposition to Kerry's actions began over 30 years before Unfit for Command was written.

1) Describe the circumstances for the basis of O'Neill's objections.

2) What were the circumstances surrounding the debate between O'Neill and Kerry, why did it take so long to schedule the event, and how was the venue chosen?

3) What was the end result of the debate? Why did the crowd react the way they did? What important suggestion does O'Neill make to the readers about the debate, and why? What does Kerry's lack of evidence in the debate illustrate with regards to the claims he has made against the military?

Essay Topic 2

How was Kerry thought of by the other officers he served with in general? Describe specific situations and examples that illustrate and support their opinions of Kerry. What is so important about the way quotes are used throughout the book and who they are from? How does that help the authors show the reason for their objective?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the exhibit that Bill Lupetti witnessed when he visited Vietnam. What are the most surprising things about the exhibit? How does it relate to the authors' description of Kerry and his overall qualifications to be the Commander in Chief?

(see the answer keys)

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