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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'Brien experience for the first time in chapter nine?

2. Which of the following is a synonym for the term raucous as it is used to describe the bus ride to basic training?

3. On which peninsula does chapter eleven occur?

4. What type of narration is this chapter?

5. What does the forest symbolize to O'Brien?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way do Erik and O'Brien catch the attention of the drill sergeant?

2. What do the soldiers learn how to do at the combat center?

3. Describe how the soldiers feel during the fire fight.

4. After he starts his interest in politics, what does O'Brien begin to do?

5. What do the soldiers do that provokes a few Viet Cong hiding in the jungle to open fire before disappearing into the jungle?

6. How many scenes does the author use in chapter ten?

7. To whom does O'Brien write as he continues his plan to desert to Sweden?

8. What is sometimes the cause of the explosive ordinance attacks?

9. Why do the Vietnamese people go everywhere the men of Alpha Company go?

10. How does O'Brien see himself during basic training?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a letter to a congressman penned by O'Brien after he returned to America from his tour in Vietnam. Be sure to include his strong feelings, beliefs and reasons behind these beliefs and feelings.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay making a personal judgment on the Vietnam War based on O'Brien's experience. Do you believe O'Brien feels the war was justified? Do you believe that O'Brien feels his own actions were justified? Do you believe O'Brien feels the actions of the others he knew during his time in the war were justified?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the changes O'Brien went through throughout all of his time in Vietnam. In what ways did he become a better person? In what ways was he too hard on himself? Use specific examples from the novel to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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