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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 name of the alien force with which Earth is at war.

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

3. What does Stott say that training should be considered?

4. What kind of conditioning have the troops gone through?

5. Who divides the platoon into three firing squads?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the company do on the third day?

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

3. Describe the journey to Charon.

4. Describe the battle against the Taurans in Chapter 15.

5. With what have the platoon commanders been pre-programmed?

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

7. What has happened to Marygay at the beginning of Chapter 4, Part 2?

8. What advantages and disadvantages do the human have in fighting the Taurans?

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

10. What are the students' responses to the film?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine homosexuality in the novel. Is it a feasible idea that the majority of the population could become homosexual? What would have to change on today's Earth for that to happen?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Haldeman use character and setting to express these themes?

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