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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 is the feeling of the brigade as the offensive begins?

2. Why throw a grenade instead of firing a rifle in the dark?

3. What do they hear about right away?

4. Why does Caputo choose to enlist with the Marines?

5. What is to be the measure of victory in the battle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Sitting in the outpost ahead of C Company, what does Caputo have difficulty remembering?

2. What is it like for Caputo as they march back through Giao-Tri?

3. What does Caputo recall when the helicopter he is in draws ground fire?

4. How does Caputo describe the way a soldier fighting in the jungle should act?

5. What does the hospital corpsman tell Parker about his friend, Esposito?

6. Explain why Caputo says that at age twenty-four he is more prepared for death than he is for life.

7. After a group of VC disappears once again, what does Caputo want to believe?

8. Describe the French Fort overlooking the paddies west of Hill 327.

9. What happens to the machine-gunner named Parker as they wait for a convoy?

10. How does Caputo describe himself as he watches the action of the offensive from the hill?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Now that you have read about the experiences of the Marines in Vietnam, write a paper about how difficult it probably was for most of them to step back into civil society at home. Perhaps you have known of someone coming back from a war who had a problem readjusting. Give your opinion about the responsibility of the people who send young men to war in helping to rehabilitate them after they return.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper on the need of many men to prove their manhood. Express your opinion as to why this is something Caputo mentions several times in the book. Besides war, what are ways some men choose to prove to themselves that they are real men? Express your opinion as to whether such behavior is necessary.

Essay Topic 3

A recurring theme in the book is fear. Using examples of extreme fear in the book, write a paper about how fear can cause people to do things they would not normally do. You may want to relate this to a personal example of behavior when you were very frightened.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 752 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample