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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. Who comes up with a bold plan that must be carried out flawlessly for Lee?

2. Who is the engineer that came up with the novel idea to blow a hole in the Confederate defense?

3. Who makes a serious mistake at Cold Harbor?

4. Who reassures Grant that the war is still his call and that Washington politics will not interfere with his decisions?

5. What carries ammunition but no food from Richmond?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the crater become a death trap for the Federal soldiers?

2. How does Lincoln's nomination affect the Federal soldiers and their confidence in victory?

3. What is the irony in Chamberlain's death at the time of World War I?

4. Why does Lee fail to attend the surrender ceremony?

5. Why does Appomattox signify the end of the Civil War?

6. How does Shaara powerfully convey the death of Hill, one of Lee's leaders through a third-person point of view of an unknown officier?

7. How does Lee finally accept Grant's offer to discuss surrender?

8. Why is Lee disappointed that Lincoln is reelected?

9. Why is Grant tempted to drink alcohol after Cold Harbor?

10. When Chamberlain rides back to the battle, how does he fool Confederate soldiers through a ruse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "The Last Full Measure", Shaara's Civil War society shows a conscious selectivity about technology. What do you think of the technology employed by the Federal Army as compared to that of the Confederate soldiers? Which aspects do you find more or less appealing? How is technology associated with power and rebellion?

Essay Topic 2

Grant and Lee are two of the most active characters in acting upon their social and political beliefs.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Grant had a direct influence upon? What are some events that Lee had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support or sympathy to the President's views? Which one is stronger and why?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Shaara's use of humor in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of humor and explain why Shaara used them where he did.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 998 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample