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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 team A do when team B loses three members?

2. What are the company's fighting suits set to?

3. Where does the company take a six-month journey?

4. Where do the troops head for the night?

5. What does Sergeant Cortez appear to be missing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What problems does Mandella voice about Potter at the beginning of Chapter 7?

2. How does Mandella save a man's life in Chapter 8?

3. How does Stott demonstrate how dangerous the suit can be?

4. Describe a fighting suit.

5. Why are the reasons for the army maintaining a strict level of discipline during their journey in Chapter 6?

6. What mistake does Mandella make in training at the beginning of Chapter 7?

7. How does Mandella feel towards the enemy in Chapter 15?

8. What two things does Captain Stott tell the troops on Charon?

9. Why does Cortez state capital punishment is usually unnecessary?

10. How has Stargate changed since the last time Mandella was there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Haldeman use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character, examine the way Haldeman uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have?

Essay Topic 2

Pick a character from the novel and discuss his/her goals and motives. Does he/she achieve his/her motives? Why? Does he/she share similar goals and motives with other characters? Does his/her goals clash with other characters? How do the character's goals and motives affect his/her interactions with each other?

Essay Topic 3

Haldeman participated in the Vietnam War. Adhering to the rule that writers should always write about what they know, do you think it is obvious that Haldeman knows his subject? What difference do you think it makes to the story? Are there any moments where you think Haldeman does not portray a character or setting so well? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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