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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 do the Marines plan to do with Charley Galloway?

2. What does Koffler do when he gets home?

3. From what platform did the Japanese launch the attack on Pearl Harbor?

4. Who drives Charley back to the base?

5. What position is Jack Dillon offered with the Marines?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Franklin Neville and on what subject is he an expert? What has he written on the subject?

2. What do Knox and Pickering talk about after Pickering answers Knox's initial inquiry?

3. When does Neville board the plane and what happens to him?

4. From where did the attack on Pearl Harbor come, when did it occur and what was the result of the attack?

5. What was Charley determined to do during his first few years in service?

6. Where has Galloway been sent after flying the plane without permission and what do the Marines plan to do about him?

7. Describe Koffler's visit home the first day.

8. Where does Ellen Feller work and in what capacity?

9. Why is Stephen Koffler at Lakehurst and what does the Navy keep there?

10. What happens when Galloway, Ward and Schneider are headed to Lakehurst?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the entire series of novels concerning the Corps takes place during the second world war; therefore, understanding the political and social situation during that time helps to a greater understanding and appreciation of this book and others in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research and write an expository essay about how the second world war begins and ends.

2. Research and write an expository essay about the battles that take place on land between America and the Japanese in World War II.

3. Compare/contrast the importance of the British infantry during the second world war to the importance of the American infantry during WWI.

4. Write an expository essay on how World War II affects the social culture of one of the following countries: Britain, France, America, or Germany.

Essay Topic 2

Joe Howard is what they call a mustang, an enlisted man who came up to be an officer. Often there is tension between an enlisted man who becomes and officer and a college graduate who starts as an officer.

1. How do you think a mustang might handle command differently than a regular officer? Use examples from Counterattack to illustrate your answer.

2. Other officers resenting those who did not go to college is not uncommon in other institutions. There are many situations in which a person is qualified to do a job without formal education and those with formal education might resent that person. Discuss what you believe are the interpersonal and personality dynamics of this type of situation. Use examples to support your answer.

3. Throughout history, as long as there has been rank in the military or classes in the social sphere, treatment of people have been unequal. Officers have always had better quarters and food. Kings sleep in better homes than carpenters. Do you think inequality of people is good or bad? Could it motivate those in the lower hierarchies to work harder or just make them resentful? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of unequal status among humans.

Essay Topic 3

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider Counterattack a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

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