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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 Persian ambassador continue to deliver, even as he is hurt badly?

2. What do the Persians fire at the Spartans in hopes of breaking them down?

3. Xerxes orders his personal bodyguard, _______________, into combat.

4. What kind of armor do the Persian soldiers wear, rendering them vulnerable to attack?

5. Ephialtes reveals that his father taught him to fight like a _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is shown in the graphics to represent the harsh training the soldiers undergo at camp?

2. What is the advantage of fighting at the Hot Gates for the Spartans or for any army that uses this location?

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

4. What does Leonidas do in order to restore the honor of Stelios before the other men?

5. What does the Persian Ambassador do, even after his significant injury?

6. What happens when the Persian Ambassador decides to lash Dilios?

7. What tale does Dilios tell as the Persian Ambassador visits the Spartan camp?

8. Describe the appearance of the Hot Gates where the Spartans are fighting.

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

10. After the initial assault of the Persians is defeated, what do the Persians do next to the Spartans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The armies both want to intimidate the other army in order to get the upper hand in the battle.

Part 1: How much of a battle do you think is mental? How much is physical?

Part 2: Is it more important for any army to have mental toughness or physical toughness? Why?

Part 3: What does intimidation do to the opposing army who is being intimidated? What does the intimidation do for the army who is doing the intimidating?

Essay Topic 2

The terrain itself in the story seems to be a character in and of itself. From the narrow ledges to the creative names, it too seems to have a place in the story.

Part 1: Which part of the terrain do you think was most important to the story? Why?

Part 2: What do the names of the lands seem to say about the land as a whole or about the battle taking place?

Part 3: If the land were to be more generic, how might this have affected the story as a whole?

Essay Topic 3

Leonidas notes that that excessive pride of Xerxes is what is getting him in trouble with others.

Part 1: Why might pride be a bad thing to have when you are a leader of others?

Part 2: Why does Leonidas see pride as a character flaw in Xerxes?

Part 3: Don't you think Leonidas has a lot of pride too? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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