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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. When the Vietcong are hiding under the water, what are they breathing with?

2. When the troops are attacked, trying to capture the piece of Vietnamese land, how does Richie feel?

3. After Richie and Peewee are separated from their squad, where do they spend the night?

4. Who is the highest ranking soldier among Richie's squad?

5. Which soldier accidentally releases a flare during a fight, revealing the position of the troops?

Short Essay Questions

1. What race relation issues come to light during the time of Vietnamese Tet?

2. When does Richie realize that Johnson would have been a natural-born leader?

3. How are Richie and Peewee separated from the rest of their troop?

4. Why do the rescue choppers open fire on the Vietnamese allies?

5. How do the American soldiers prepare the bodies of their fallen soldiers so that the enemy cannot mutilate them?

6. How does Richie explain the shooting of the Vietcong soldier to his brother, Kenny?

7. What conversation does Richie get into with Johnson about the war protesters?

8. How does Richie kill his first Vietcong soldier, and what is his reaction to the killing?

9. What power struggle arises between Johnson and Stewart in the battlefield of the reclaimed hill?

10. What happens when the Vietnamese allies want the American troops to help them capture a crucial hill?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of heroism is present alongside the romanticism of soldiers. Choose two soldiers in the novel and describe the vocalizations these soldiers raise about heroism. Then, compare/contrast those vocalizations to the actual reactions the soldier see when they are faced with moments of heroism.

Essay Topic 2

All of the soldiers in Richie's squad have joined the army for very different reasons. Choose three soldiers from Richie's squad and briefly describe their reasons for joining the army. Then, explain how those motivations affected the soldier's performance in battle.

Essay Topic 3

The letters that the soldiers send home are the only outlet that they have to their families.

Part 1) Explain the importance of the letters written from the soldiers to their families.

Part 2) Explain the importance of the letters written from family to the soldiers.

Part 3) Compare/contrast the letter writing processes of Richie and Peewee.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 824 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample