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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 does O'Neill encourage the readers to do in order to substantiate his account of the Dick Cavett Show?

2. What person did Kerry compare himself to during his tour?

3. What is the second sub-section of Part 1 of the book titled?

4. Why does O'Neill think that Americans are uninformed?

5. What is a "skimmer"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why is it important to understand when the problems between O'Neill and Kerry began?

3. 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?

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

5. What were the circumstances around the award of Kerry's second Purple Heart, and how does it parallel the first?

6. 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?

7. How did one of Kerry's suggestions affect the Swiftees when they were ordered to employ Psychological Operations against the enemy?

8. How was Kerry awarded the Silver Star?

9. How did the debate between O'Neill and Kerry begin, and what was the outcome?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What events caused Kerry to be awarded the Silver Star? What was the purpose for Kerry's assignment? How did he and his fellow officers carry out their orders? What was the end result and why did the officers think it was comical? How did Kerry use the situation to get the medal? In what ways does the Silver Star award continue the pattern of behavior that Kerry followed during his tour?

Essay Topic 2

What are the questions the authors ask at the end of the Introduction? Why are the answers to them critical to the effectiveness of the authors' main points? What do the authors hope to accomplish with the rest of the book? How have they proven their sincerity in the Introduction, and how does that make them more credible?

Essay Topic 3

Why is it important for the authors to establish that their motives for writing the book are not political? Describe 2 examples of how they accomplish this. What does the time in which the book was released have to do with their effort to distance themselves from politics? How might their points be taken less seriously if they represented a candidate or had a political agenda? How is their case strengthened by focusing only on Kerry's war background and his inability to be the Commander in Chief?

(see the answer keys)

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