Tomorrow, When The War Began | Chapter 19 Questions

1. What makes Ellie think the soldiers walking past them are professionals?

The way they act, someone who's untrained wouldn't be nearly as silent as those soldiers had been. They were also efficient and calm in their movements and actions.

2. What do the soldiers fire at in the bushes?

A rabbit. THEY ARE SO BORED THEY FIRE AT A BLOODY RABBIT.

3. What are some clues that the group is starting to think ‘more like soldiers’?

The first part is from Ellie, while we already know of Homer becoming more soldier-like, the others are slow to adjust to the war. 'I had to activate that determined voice in my brain: "If you do nothing, you'll die. Move, but move slowly. Be controlled. Don't panic."'
This is probably for the best too, if they begin to all think like soldiers there is a less likely chance they may be injured, taken or killed. This will allow them to become more efficient in survival and likely taking back Wirrawee or assisting those who do.

4. Do you think Homer’s plan will work? What problems do you think they might encounter?

As said within the chapter, there are problems such as the cattle refusing to move, the tankers not being there or being empty or other vehicles or sentries being around. But there are also others that go unmentioned but are likely discussed and not mentioned within the text, these are problems such as getting the motorbikes, the sentries shooting at the bikes as they run, the sentries shooting the bikes or them before they reach them and MANY others. However, like the last plan where they saved Lee, I'm sure it will end fine. Improvisation is key in any war.

5. What does Homer suggest they do when the group goes up to the Heron?

I believe that is when he suggests blowing up the tanker, I can't find anything to suggest anything else was said between the three who went up.

6. What are his strategies to put his plan into action?

Distraction. He plans to use the cows in the area to distract the sentries and soldiers as they lead the tanker into place and blow it up. It's definitely a unique approach to what they want to do.