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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. To which court does the the merchant take his case, after he leaves the Jewish court?

2. What happened to the merchant's business after the court case?

3. What does Elisha think about his new wife after the week-long festival?

4. Who arrives at the Temple Mount to stop the work on the rebuilding of the Temple?

5. Soon after Elisha's conversation, a rider comes into town with what news?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Shraga treat Elisha when they're working on the merchant's court case together?

2. Why do you think Deborah is not comfortable around Meir and his wife Beruriah?

3. Why does Elisha seek out the Christians and Gnostics?

4. What did Elisha drop in his Jewish academy class?

5. Who does Elisha turn to after sharing his thoughts with Deborah, and why?

6. What do you think Abuyah means by his dying words to Elisha?

7. Who eavesdrops on a conversation between Elisha and Meir, and what does she discover?

8. After the ex-communication of Elisha was read at Sanhedrin, what did Joshua do?

9. In Part One, Chapter XX, what advice does Nicholaus give to Elisha about Elisha's obsession with Greek literature?

10. Why does one rabbi give the opinion that wisdom cannot be found in pagan literature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Prejudice is a dangerous problem throughout As a Driven Leaf. Why do the Roman soldiers tease the boys, Pappas and Elisha, about being Jews? Were the Roman soldiers' behaviors unfair or fair? More importantly, are prejudices built into culture, or do they change with every generation? Discuss at least two accounts of prejudice described in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the contrast between the decision of the people of Bethar and the decision of Elisha when faced with Roman persecution. Why did the people of Bethar choose to commit mass suicide? Who made the wiser choice, the people of Bethar or Elisha? Define wisdom according to the principles of Elisha and the town of Bethar.

Essay Topic 3

The Jews as a community are facing persecution by the Romans but also must deal with divisions within their own community. Is it important for the Jewish members to speak and act as one, or should multiple voices and opinions be heard? Should the Sanhedrin operate by unanimous decision or by majority rule? Can every voice be heard equally?

(see the answer keys)

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