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

Short Answer Questions

1. The official ___________ myth is that 700,000 Arabs fled their homes in 1948, freely giving up their rights.

2. Opinion polls in 2002 fluctuated around the 50% mark among Israelis over whether they could accept an independent ___________ state next door.

3. Wealthy Jews deride the Arabs as being ____________ and about being lazy.

4. ____________ is comfortable to both sides as everyone knows unambiguously whom to hate.

5. Rabbi David Hartman is a ___________ philosopher who states that religion is naturally reactionary.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the official Israeli myth which is dissected in the book which Shipler has written?

2. Why does the 12-year-old Palestinian in Jabalya have no past and no future, according to Shipler?

3. Why is it said that conflict is comfortable to both sides of this area?

4. What does Shipler discuss as being the goal of terrorism amongst the Jews and Arabs?

5. Where was Shipler wandering in the streets at the start of this book and its narrative?

6. What is a 13-year-old Jewish boy called when he says that he is upset with the anti-Arab bigotry in his school?

7. How are the Arab youth being affected by the actions of the Israeli police?

8. What happens because there is too much bitterness among Arabs and Jews, according to Shipler?

9. What is the recurring theme in the examples that Shipler provides in terms of how the Arabs are portrayed in the media?

10. What did politicians do when a journalist documents forced expulsions from many parts of the country?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Children are taught from a young age to hate those who are not like them, with school lessons even talking about who to fear.

Part 1: Do you think it's right to teach children to fear a certain group of people? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you think lessons about other races are necessary in schools? Why or why not?

Part 3: Are there ways to teach children about other races in an unbiased fashion? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

It is said by Rabbi David Hartman that biblical people are extremists. This is a powerful statement for readers.

Part 1: Do you agree with the statement of Rabbi Hartman? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think Hartman makes the statement he does?

Part 3: In what ways have you seen religion affect the way the world works together?

Essay Topic 3

What's interesting to note is that Shipler points out that not all groups are intolerant of others.

Part 1: Why do you think there is a perception that all religious groups have some sort of intolerance?

Part 2: Do you think it's fair to say that all Jews or all Arabs hate the other? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think the groups might behave if they realized not everyone was intolerant of them?

(see the answer keys)

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