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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. What does the oracle inhale as she begins to talk with Leonidas about his war plans?

2. What does the boy lead the stalking animal into that proves to be the demise of the animal?

3. The ___________ King is in command of all of the soldiers who have finally arrived at the Hot Gates.

4. Leonidas muses that his distant rival, ___________, has already refused the Persian envoy's demands, so he does too.

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Stelios as he marches in the weather at the beginning of the novel?

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

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

4. What is the path of the combined forces of Leonidas and the others who meet up with him?

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

6. What kinds of weapons are the soldiers carrying as they march to battle at the start of this novel?

7. Describe the area in which the ephors live during this second chapter of the book.

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some of the people in the Persian army are driven ahead, only by the lashes of a whip.

Part 1: Do you think pain or fear of pain is a good enough reason to fight well for an army?

Part 2: What are some other ways that the soldiers in the Persian army could have been motivated?

Part 3: Why do you think the soldiers lashed the soldiers during the battle?

Essay Topic 2

In order to be a great leader of an army, it seems you need to have a bit of arrogance as well as intelligence.

Part 1: In what ways does Leonidas' arrogance help him?

Part 2: In what ways does Leonidas' arrogance hurt him in battle?

Part 3: Does arrogance seem to be a positive or a negative quality for a leader? Why do you choose the answer you do?

Essay Topic 3

In some respects, it seems like Leonidas (at the start of the story) is more of a follower than a leader.

Part 1: Why doesn't Leonidas make up his own mind when it comes to the Persian envoy's demands of him?

Part 2: What might have happened if Leonidas has simply agreed to the demands of the Persian envoy?

Part 3: Do you think the Persian envoy was trying to manipulate Leonidas? Why or why not? If so, how?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 675 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample