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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 Sledge see strewn about that causes the stench of war?

2. How do the men in Sledge's until feel about Shadow's appearance?

3. What do the men use to keep the mortars and ammunition above the water?

4. Where is Sledge transferred after the war is ended?

5. Who was the highest-ranking American officer killed during World War II?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sledge describe the 320mm spigot-mortar?

2. How do the officers treat the enlisted men after Okinawa is declared "secure"?

3. Why is chapter 9 entitled "Stay of execution"?

4. What is Mac's response to the urging of his platoon before the fighting begins on Okinawa?

5. What did Sledge do for the woman in the abandoned hut instead of what she wanted him to do?

6. What does Sledge credit his survival in combat to?

7. Why are Sledge and his platoon not deeply affected by Franklin Roosevelt's death?

8. Why are Sledge and the other men forced to do a manual re-supply when it begins to rain on Okinawa?

9. What is different about the soil in Peleliu and Okinawa?

10. How do Sledge and his platoon feel about Shadow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How did Sledge change throughout the story? What were his thoughts at the beginning as compared to the end? What specific experiences during the war had profound impacts on him? Did he change for the better? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Sledge chose some very descriptive titles for each of his chapters. Choose 3 of the chapter titles and discuss why he named the chapter that way. What did it add to the text? Why do you think he chose that title?

Essay Topic 3

Mark experiences moments of intense fear before he is to join the siege on the beaches at Peleliu and Okinawa. What are the differences in the fear he feels at these two instances? How does Sledge deal with the fear he feels?

(see the answer keys)

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