Sunrise Over Fallujah

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which type of relationship does Jonesy pursue with Birdy?

A) Romantic

B) Fiscal

C) Convenience

D) Camaraderie

2. As Sergeant Harris comments on the US intervention in Iraq, he states, “‘They got to see your power. They got to see you take out their cities, kill a few folks. In a way, we’re teachers getting ready to let them know what American power is really all about. That’s why I’m here.’” Which literary terms does Harris use in the previous quote?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor

C) Personification

D) Allegory

3. Based on Birdy’s letter to his uncle in Chapter 3, which of the following best describes Birdy’s communication with his father?

A) Regular

B) Loving

C) Scant

D) Heartful

4. Which of the following sentences best describes how Birdy feels about his military training?

A) He believes it is sufficient preparation for the impending war.

B) He finds it filled with difficult and dangerous tasks.

C) He considers it too gentle and nurturing to the Iraqi people.

D) He believes it is confusing and lacking critical information.

5. As Robin approaches Kuwait, he remarks, “We rode deep into the night and into the early morning. The Kuwaiti desert, in spots, was beautiful. The rising sun spread like a brilliant egg flattening out.” Which of the following literary terms does Robin use in this quote?

A) Hyperbole

B) Simile

C) Personification

D) Allegory

6. Which of the following best describes how Birdy chooses to process his grief in Chapter 6?

A) Speaking openly with Captain Coles

B) Internalizing his emotions

C) Disassociating from the experience

D) Deserting his squad

7. Which of the following words best describes how Birdy views Baghdad?

A) Decrepit and revolting

B) Delightful and quaint

C) Modern and beautiful

D) Vile and dangerous

8. In Baghdad, Birdy overhears the following comment: “‘We need scorecards,’ said a big guy from the Civil Affairs construction crew who had brought over our mail. ‘That way at least we can tell who all the players are’” (Chapter 8). In the context of the different countries taking interest in Iraq during the regime change, which of the following words best describes the literary purpose of this quote?

A) This is a metaphor comparing the War in Iraq to a game with many players.

B) This is a metaphor comparing the arrival of international academic institutions to a football game.

C) This is a simile comparing the conflict in Iraq to a beauty pageant competition.

D) This is a simile comparing the global military presence in Iraq to a poker game.

9. As Birdy reflects on seeing civilian casualties, he says, “At first I felt a little bit ashamed at how scared seeing bodies makes me, but I notice that everyone in First Squad stops talking when we come on that kind of scene. We do it in public, but this is a private war” (Chapter 9). Which of the following best describes what Birdy means by a “private war”?

A) Most of the fighting is fought between different units within the US military.

B) There are secret operations designed to keep the fighting going undercover.

C) Many of the soldiers are grappling internally with the difficult psychological effects of war.

D) The soldiers have begun to start fighting each other in their barracks.

10. Which of the following words best describes Birdy’s feelings as he interacts with more Iraqi civilians throughout the novel?

A) Resentment

B) Fear

C) Shame

D) Empathy

11. Although the US Army possesses state-of-the-art high-tech equipment, many of their troops are falling victim to low-tech IEDs using cell phones and radios. Which of the following literary terms describes this predicament?

A) Allusion

B) Synecdoche

C) Personification

D) Irony

12. Which of the following best summarizes Jonesy’s approach to surviving the war?

A) Exhibiting empathy to the Iraqi women

B) Prioritizing his own health and safety

C) Showing a copious amount of respect to the military commanders

D) Abandoning his duties

13. Which of the following best summarizes how Birdy feels about his service in Iraq at the end of the novel?

A) Conflicted

B) Ashamed

C) Triumphant

D) Calculated

14. Which of the following emotions encapsulates how Birdy feels towards his uncle now that he has finished his tour in Iraq?

A) Angry that his uncle did not prepare him better for his military service

B) Ashamed that his uncle fought in a war that had no meaning

C) Proud that his uncle was also a hero, like himself

D) Empathetic since he now understands why his uncle struggled to speak about his experiences

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Throughout the novel, Birdy writes letters to his family, including his father; however, he notes that he does not receive any responses back. Based on inferences from the text, what are some reasons why Birdy’s father did not respond to his letters?

2. How does the writer incorporate figurative language into the novel? Find three examples of figurative language and explain their impact.