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Worksheets

The Things They Carried Final

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 2hrs 33mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What are some of the themes explored in 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

The role of technology in modern warfare, the impact of social media on soldiers, the importance of physical fitness in the military

b)

The weight of physical and emotional burdens, the blurred line between truth and fiction, the power of storytelling, the effects of war on soldiers, and the concept of bravery.

2.

How does the narrative structure of 'The Things They Carried' contribute to the overall reading experience?

a)

The narrative structure is too complex and difficult to follow, making the reading experience frustrating.

b)

The narrative structure creates a sense of fragmentation and disorientation that mirrors the experiences of the soldiers in the Vietnam War.

c)

The narrative structure is straightforward and predictable, making the reading experience dull.

d)

The narrative structure is confusing and irrelevant to the experiences of the soldiers.

3.

What is one of the main themes explored in 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

Weight of emotional and psychological burdens

b)

The power of friendship and camaraderie

c)

The importance of material possessions

d)

Physical strength and endurance

4.

Which character in 'The Things They Carried' carries a pair of stockings?

a)

Rat Kiley

b)

Henry Dobbins

c)

Mitchell Sanders

d)

Tim O'Brien

5.

Which statement best describes the author's purpose in writing 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

The author's purpose is to criticize the actions of the soldiers during the Vietnam War.

b)

The author's purpose is to explore the experiences and emotions of soldiers during the Vietnam War.

c)

The author's purpose is to provide a historical account of the Vietnam War.

d)

The author's purpose is to entertain readers with fictional stories about the Vietnam War.

6.
Who is the narrator of The Things They Carried?
a)
Tim O'Brien
b)
Jimmy Cross
c)
Ted Lavender
d)
Henry Dobbins
7.
What constantly distracts Lt. Jimmy Cross from his job?
a)
safety of his soldiers
b)
thoughts about his family
c)
fear of death
d)
thoughts of Martha
8.

What does Jimmy Cross do the morning after he loses one of his soldiers?

a)

Cries

b)

Buries his body

c)

Burns letters from his would-be girlfriend

d)

Burns photographs of his would-be girlfriend

9.
"Hump it" means what?
a)
To carry something
b)
Dig a foxhole
c)
Shoot at the enemy
d)
Stay in formation
10.

The war stories in The Things They Carried take place during...

a)

World War II

b)

the Gulf War

c)

the Korean War

d)

the Vietnam War.

11.

"They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing..." were examples of

a)

tangible weights.

b)

intangible weights.

12.

The soldier's greatest fear, was the fear of _______ ."

a)

sweating

b)

crying

c)

blushing

d)

singing

13.

"Lieutenant Jimmy Cross reminded himself that his obligation was not to be loved but to ______ ."

a)

love

b)

laugh

c)

lie

d)

lead

14.

"Boom down" described the sound of _____ ?

a)

fighting

b)

death

c)

marching

d)

singing

15.

Who does O'Brien consider to be his "life hero"?

a)

Ted Lavender

b)

Jimmy Cross

c)

Kiowa

d)

Elroy Berdahl

16.

What is NOT a significant theme from the book?

a)

Morality and Death

b)

Patriotism

c)

Social Obligation

d)

Storytelling and Memory

17.

Tim could have escaped to Canada with the help of Elroy, but he sat in the boat and cried instead.

a)

True

b)

False

18.
What happens when Curt Lemon is called in to see the dentist?
a)
Lemon faints.
b)
The dentist has to pull a tooth.
c)
Lemon refuses to enter the dentist's office.
d)
Lemon knocks out one of the dentist's teeth.
19.
Who flies his girlfriend to Vietnam?
a)
Tim O'Brien
b)
Mark Fossie
c)
Mitchell Sanders
d)
Henry Dobbins
20.
What medal does Norman Bowker almost win?
a)
The Air Medal
b)
The Silver Star
c)
The Bronze Star
d)
The Purple Heart
21.
When O'Brien returns to Vietnam more than twenty years after the war, whom does he bring with him?
a)
His wife
b)
Mary Anne Bell
c)
Kathleen
d)
Norman Bowker
22.

How does O'Brien cope with his post traumatic stress from the war?

a)

Meeting with Jimmy Cross

b)

Talking about the war

c)

Writing stories about the war

d)

Visiting Vietnam with his daughter

23.

What is the best description of Mary Anne Belle's transformation?

a)

She felt like becoming one with the land was the only way to avoid Mark Fossie.

b)

She wanted to be a soldier, save lives, and serve her country as best she could.

c)

She felt like it was what Mark wanted her to do.

d)

She became one with the land and felt like she was meant to be a Greenie.

24.

Tim O'Brien says, "I was a coward. I went to war." What does he mean by this?

a)

He didn't stand up for what he truly believed in.

b)

He was scared to death to go to the war.

c)

He felt that soldiers who fought in the war were cowards.

d)

He felt that he would be a coward when the time came to fight for his country.

25.

Did O’Brien end up going to Canada?

a)

Yes, but he didn’t have a passport and was returned back

b)

Yes, but he changed his mind and came back home

c)

No, he couldn’t figure out how to sneak over the border

d)

No, he couldn’t bring himself to do it

26.

Check all items that count as "emotional weight"(intangible) items that the soldiers carried:

a)

shame

b)

guilt

c)

candy

d)

loneliness

27.

Check all items that count as "comfort" (tangible/physical) items that the soldiers carried:

a)

toothbrush

b)

fear

c)

foot powder

d)

comic books

e)

grief

28.

How does Jimmy Cross change after Lavender's death?

a)

He decides to run away.

b)

He gives up trying to be a leader.

c)

He tries to take his position as lieutenant more seriously.

d)

He begins to blame his men for all problems.

29.

In the first chapter O'Brien describes all the things the men had to carry. Why does he take so much time and go into detail with all of these items?

a)

He wants the reader to sympathize with him.

b)

He wants the reader to understand the weight of all of the objects.

c)

He wants the reader to understand the physical and emotional weight the men carried with them.

d)

He wants the reader to believe he is knowledgeable of the Vietnam War.

30.

What does Lt. Jimmy Cross carry for good luck?

a)

Rabbit's foot

b)

Four-leaf clover

c)

baseball hat

d)

pebble

31.
What is Jimmy Cross's rank?
a)
Private
b)
Colonel
c)
Lieutenant
d)
Medic
32.

How did Tim O’Brien come to join the military?

a)

He joined ROTC in college and enlisted after college

b)

He enlisted after college

c)

He was drafted during college and deferred until he graduated

d)

He was drafted a month after graduating

33.

What is "terrain"?

a)

ground or landscape

b)

A GMC sports utility vehicle

c)

a Latin phrase, literally meaning "firm land."

d)

unknown or unexplored territory.

34.

Define the word "levitate"

a)

think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.

b)

a sea serpent demon noted in theology and mythology

c)

distinct; bright; clearly perceptible

d)

to float or rise into the air

35.

When does "Speaking of Courage" take place?

a)

Christmas, after the war

b)

Norman's birthday, during the war

c)

4th of July, after the war

d)

Easter, before the war

36.

In "Speaking of Courage" Norman Bowker recalls whose death?

a)

Kiowa's

b)

his father's

c)

Ted Lavendar's

d)

a Vietnamese baby's

37.

What is the author's opinion on the war in Vietnam?

a)

The war is justified and necessary

b)

The war is wrong and lacks unity of purpose

c)

The war is a war of national liberation

d)

The war is a civil war

38.

What does the author fear about going to war?

a)

Exile from his own life

b)

Losing the respect of his parents

c)

Dying in a wrong war

d)

All of the above

39.

Why does the author consider fleeing to Canada?

a)

To escape his hometown

b)

To avoid the draft

c)

To join the State Department

d)

To pursue a career as a writer

40.

Which literary elements apply to the novel, The Things They Carried (T.T.T.C.)? Check all that apply

a)

The book is structured in chronological order

b)

The book is not linear; each chapter features a different perspective, time period, or event

c)

It is a "grunt's eye" or low-ranking soldier's view of the war

d)

It is an entirely true story

41.

Which soldier is of Native American descent?

a)

Kiowa

b)

Norman Bowker

c)

Rat Kiley

d)

Than Khe

42.

During the Vietnam War, soldiers had to take care not to step...

a)

in quicksand

b)

in mud

c)

on mines

d)

lively

43.

What does the character Norman Bowker struggle with after the war?

a)

Dealing with guilt and trauma

b)

Physical injuries

c)

Reconnecting with family

d)

Finding a job

44.

Which item does Ted Lavender carry to calm his nerves?

a)

A journal

b)

A photograph

c)

A Bible

d)

Marijuana

45.

What is the significance of the title 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

It symbolizes the emotional and psychological burdens of the soldiers.

b)

It refers to the physical items soldiers carried during the war.

c)

It highlights the importance of material possessions in the war.

d)

It describes the journey of soldiers returning home.

46.

What does the character Kiowa carry that symbolizes his cultural heritage?

a)

A Bible

b)

A pair of moccasins

c)

A feathered headdress

d)

A tomahawk

47.

What is the significance of the title 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

It describes the weight of the soldiers' equipment.

b)

It refers to the physical items the soldiers carried during the war.

c)

It symbolizes the emotional and psychological burdens the soldiers carried.

d)

It highlights the importance of material possessions in the soldiers' lives.

48.

How does the author use storytelling as a coping mechanism in 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

By telling stories to entertain his readers.

b)

By writing stories to process his emotions and experiences.

c)

By sharing stories to connect with other veterans.

d)

By creating fictional stories to escape reality.

49.

What is the primary setting of 'The Things They Carried'?

a)

The deserts of Iraq

b)

The jungles of Vietnam

c)

The forests of Germany

d)

The mountains of Afghanistan

50.

What does the character Henry Dobbins use as a good luck charm?

a)

A rabbit's foot

b)

A four-leaf clover

c)

A pair of pantyhose

d)

A lucky coin