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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 oracle also states that no Spartan army will ____________.

2. The messenger asked that Leonidas send a ________ of earth and a jar of water to the King of Persia.

3. What does the boy fashion as he is out on his quest?

4. What begins to turn into a violent storm the closer they move toward the Hot Gates?

5. How many soldiers are rumored to be in the Persian army that Leonidas is planning on fighting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the Greeks exult over when they reach the Hot Gates during the violent storm?

2. What do the other Greek commanders do when they join up with Leonidas and his soldiers?

3. What does Leonidas have to do prior to beginning a full scale military expedition, according to Spartan law?

4. What does the Persian envoy tell Leonidas to send to the Persian king as a sign of subjugation?

5. For how long have the soldiers at the start of this novel been marching?

6. Where are the soldiers in the beginning of this novel marching to and from as they head into battle, it seems?

7. What does Leonidas think about the ephors and their ruling about whether the Spartans can fight?

8. What do the soldiers in the beginning of the novel wear as they match to battle?

9. Describe the weather conditions for the soldiers as they have marched during the beginning of this story.

10. What is one of the reasons why Leonidas refuses to send the sign of subjugation to the Persian king?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The question of whether Leonidas has another soldiers is one that comes up again and again.

Part 1: How many soldiers do you think will be enough for Leonidas to have? Why?

Part 2: Is it better to have more soldiers or higher quality soldiers in lesser numbers? Why?

Part 3: Why do you think Leonidas wanted to pick his own soldiers one by one?

Essay Topic 2

The strategy with which Leonidas fights the battle is impressive. He continues to shift strategies until he finds one that works for the situation.

Part 1: Which strategy was the most impressive to you as a reader? Why?

Part 2: Do you think Leonidas should have done anything different? What?

Part 3: Do you think the strategies might work in today's modern warfare battles? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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