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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 do the Irgun ultimately carry out?

2. What do the seminarians believe the Zionist's mission should be?

3. What does the Israeli Supreme Court rule when the elders of Biram file a petition for permission to return to their homes?

4. What is Elias immersed in at his new home?

5. What does Elias begin to write?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the Bishop suggest for Elias?

2. What events of the 1960's colored Elias's view of the church and why?

3. What did Michael Chacour begin to realize about Elias and what did he do about it?

4. How did the Beatitudes appear to Elias and why?

5. What type of study did Elias and his friend study at the seminary and how did Elias feel about it?

6. What would a current student of the Middle East find strange about Palestine in the late 1940's?

7. Where and when did Elias Chacour grow up and what did his family do for a living?

8. What happens in Palestine when the United Nations steps into the conflict?

9. What did Elias begin to do after so many people were taken from the village of Gish? What did he believe about the situation?

10. What did Elias' father explain about the Jews coming to the town?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elias' father's perspective is historical and he makes certain the children know their heritage. Discuss the following:

1. What is the status of Jews, Muslim and Christians in Palestine before the coming of Zionism?

2. What three principles does Michael Chacour instill in his children and how does Elias manifest those principles as an adult?

3. What advantages are there in knowing one's family and regional history? Are there any disadvantages? How does this knowledge help Elias?

Essay Topic 2

In "Singled Out," it is the end of 1949, and things had begun to change somewhat. The new Zionist landowners were unschooled in the proper cultivation of the orchards and needed to employ native Palestinians to care for them. Discuss one the following:

1. Compare and contrast Michael's reaction to working in his own orchards as hired help with that of Elias' reaction. Which reaction is more like to how you would feel? Which seems psychologically healthier? Which seems more in line with the doctrines of Christianity?

2. In this same chapter, it states that other villagers left for Haifa, hoping to secure better jobs in the new factories being built by the Jews. What is the irony in both this situation and in that of the former orchard owners working as hired hands in their orchards?

3. How do you think the Jewish families who steal the Palestinian lands justify such actions? Is the land stolen? Or paid for by fair market value? Even if the land is paid for, if the villager does not want to sell but is forced to do so, it that a fair exchange?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter one, Elias reveals that his father insisted their family would prepare a feast for Jewish soldiers who would be arriving in the village, and that the family would welcome them into their home. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem odd that the first people to arrive are soldiers rather than civilians? What message does that send to the Palestinians?

2. How might things have been different had families of immigrants came to Biram rather than soldiers?

3. Do you think the Zionist actually believe that Palestine is uninhabited land? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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