View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The pride of Xerxes causes him to want immediate ______________ from his personal bodyguard troops.

2. Where are the Spartan defensive tactics centering on at the start of this chapter?

3. Who is watching from a distance and is becoming nervous that the Spartans might actually win?

4. The iron clad ____________ of the Spartan army ensures no man will falter or flee.

5. What does Leonidas order the Spartans to use as their formation when he begins to realize the power of the animals?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the Persian representative that come into camp as the Spartans begin to ready for a major battle?

2. Why wasn't Ephialtes left to die of exposure in the fields in Sparta like other deformed children?

3. What do the Spartans do with the Persian corpses from their battle in order to intimidate others, it seems?

4. What formation does Leonidas command once he realizes the camels might prove problematic in battle?

5. What ensures no man in the Spartan army will falter or flee, according to the story?

6. What is the Persian Ambassador worried about when he approaches camp?

7. What has happened to the missing Persian scouting group?

8. What is the initial reaction to the Persian Ambassador when he comes into camp?

9. Where do the Spartan defensive tactics center (location-wise) in the beginning of this chapter?

10. What kinds of armor and weaponry do the Persians have during battle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The observance of a religious festival seems to be something Sparta is told to respect again and again, even on the battlefield.

Part 1: Why is the observance of Carneia so important?

Part 2: Why doesn't Leonidas want to follow the religious observance as dictated by the ephors and the oracle?

Part 3: Why might Leonidas be so determined to fight regardless of the religious observance?

Essay Topic 2

Ephialtes really wants to fight for Sparta, but his physical deformity prevents him from impressing Leonidas.

Part 1: What is the role of Ephialtes in the story? Why is his character so important?

Part 2: What might have happened had Leonidas allowed him to be on the army?

Part 3: Why do you think Ephialtes wanted to fight with Leonidas?

Essay Topic 3

The ambassador from Persia tries to get the Spartans to surrender before the battle even begins, and loses an arm at the same time.

Part 1: What would be the value of surrendering for the Spartan army? How would the Persians benefit?

Part 2: Do you think the Persian army believes the Spartans had any possibility of surrendering? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think it would have been a better idea for the Spartans to have surrendered? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 626 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample