AnswersLanguage Arts 11 2014 - ELA3011 B-ICIndividualism, Modern Capitalism, and Dystopian Visions

Experiencing and Reliving Vietnam Answers

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Which best describes the central conflict in “Ambush”?

A
The narrator is bothered by the fact that he lied to his daughter.
B
The narrator is haunted by the experience of killing another man.
C
The narrator is tormented by the grave dangers he once faced.
D
The narrator is frustrated by the empty assurances of Kiowa.
2
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Read the excerpt from “Ambush.” He was a short, slender young man of about twenty. I was afraid of him—afraid of something—and as he passed me on the trail I threw a grenade that exploded at his feet and killed him.The excerpt is an example of

A
flashback, because the narrator is remembering a conversation with his daughter.
B
flashback, because the narrator is recalling an event that occurred during the Vietnam war.
C
frame story, because the narrator is describing an action that he deeply regrets.
D
frame story, because the narrator is explaining why he feels he must tell his daughter what he did.
3

The first paragraph of “Ambush” contains a conversation that takes place

A
before the narrator killed a man in Vietnam.
B
before the birth of the narrator’s daughter.
C
after the narrator’s experiences in the Vietnam War.
D
after the narrator told his daughter the truth about war.
4

How do the authors differ in the way they present the war in “Facing It” and “Ambush”?

A
O’Brien describes it in narrative form, while Komunyakaa describes it with free-flowing thoughts.
B
O’Brien describes it with flashback, while Komunyakaa describes it through the eyes of others.
C
O’Brien describes exactly what happened, while Komunyakaa describes only his emotional state.
D
O’Brien describes it with sensory language, while Komunyakaa describes it with personification.
5

In “Ambush,” which line signals the beginning of the narrative within the frame story?

A
When she was nine, my daughter Kathleen asked if I had ever killed anyone.
B
“You keep writing these war stories,” she said, “so I guess you must’ve killed somebody.”
C
It was a difficult moment, but I did what seemed right, which was to say, “Of course not,” and then to take her onto my lap and hold her for a while.
D
He was a short, slender young man of about twenty.
6

In the story “Ambush,” what is revealed to the reader through the frame-story structure?

A
The narrator is never able to discuss the event with his fellow troops.
B
The narrator feels deep regret that he did not tell his daughter the truth.
C
The narrator continues to feel haunted by the events in Vietnam.
D
The narrator has been able to forgive himself for what happened.
7

Which lines from the poem “Facing It” best reflect the narrator’s struggle between his desire to maintain control and the strong emotions that he feels?

A
I’m stone. I’m flesh. My clouded reflection eyes me
B
I turn that way—I’m insidethe Vietnam Veterans Memorial
C
I touch the name Andrew Johnson;I see the booby trap’s white flash.
D
Brushstrokes flash, a red bird’swings cutting across my stare.
8

Which lines from the poem “Facing It” best communicate the author’s internal conflict to the reader?

A
I said I wouldn’t,dammit: No tears. I’m stone. I’m flesh.(lines 3-5)
B
My clouded reflection eyes melike a bird of prey, the profile of nightslanted against morning. (lines 6-8)
C
I go down the 58,022 names, half-expecting to findmy own in letters like smoke.(lines 14-16)
D
A white vet’s image floatscloser to me, then his pale eyeslook through mine. I’m a window.(lines 25-27)
9

Which pair of sentences from “Ambush” best reflects that a flashback, or a shift in time, has occurred?

A
She knew about the war; she knew I’d been a soldier. “You keep writing these war stories,” she said, “so I guess you must’ve killed somebody.”
B
Even now, I haven’t finished sorting it out. Sometime I forgive myself, other times I don’t.
C
When she was, nine, my daughter Kathleen asked if I had ever killed anyone.I reached out and found three grenades and lined them up in front of me; the pins had already been straightened for quick throwing.
D
I did not hate the young man; I did not see him as the enemy; I did not ponder issues of morality or politics or military duty. I crouched and kept my head low.
10

Which element is used in both “Ambush” and “Facing It” to create tension and conflict?

A
the minimal use of descriptive words
B
the addition of several fictional elements
C
the conflicted thoughts of the narrators
D
the insertion of frequent flashbacks

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