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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 of the Bible is a mystery to Elias?

2. Where is Biram?

3. What was increasingly happening to non-Jewish Palestinians?

4. What does the second Supreme Court rule?

5. Of what does Elias's father make certain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Elias see in Jesus and how did he feel about Jesus? How did Elias see his interaction with Jesus?

2. What did the new Jewish landowners find out about their land and what did they do about it?

3. Who declared Israel an independent state in May 1948 and then what did he do? How did the world respond?

4. What did a second Supreme Court rule about the town of Biram and what happened after that ruling?

5. What did the Zionist soldiers tell the people in Elias's hometown and how did they respond?

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

7. How did the other seminarians in Paris where Elias went to farther his education view the Palestinian situation and Palestinians in general?

8. With what was Elias suspected of doing by Zionist soldiers and what was the final outcome of that accusation?

9. What type of journal did Elias begin when he was at school? How long did this journal last?

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 himself was the victim of the Zionists, when he and his friends were singled out as culprits in the cutting of a telephone line. He and his father were interrogated for hours and Elias beaten. Though it was later discovered that a truck had inadvertently driven over the wire, severing it, there was never an apology or an admission of a mistake. Discuss the following:

1. What might an apology have done to the situation? Why do you think the Zionist do not offer one?

2. Are hours of interrogation and a beating overboard for the offense? Why or why not?

3. In response to these events, Elias chooses to retreat to solitude, again talking to Jesus and coming to the conclusion that somehow he would become a part of God's plan for peace. Do you think this is a worthwhile plan? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

As a youngster, Elias loves to hear about Jesus and his miracles from his mother. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the young Elias' religious involvement. How influential is his early religious life on who he becomes? Does his spirituality seem sincere? Why or why not?

2. Elias has difficulty understanding the Beatitudes. What are the Beatitudes? State them. Choose two of them to interpret in light of your own beliefs.

3. Discuss Elias' view of Jesus and how Elias comes to be either like or not like the image Elias holds of Jesus.

Essay Topic 3

Elias found himself seeking out longer periods of solitude, talking to Jesus and praying for the safe return of the village men and boys. It was during this time that he began to feel that the message from Jesus was peace, and he offered himself to that end, if he could be of use. Discuss the following:

1. Most governments and individuals profess to desire peace, yet it seems almost impossible to obtain. What is the reason for the discrepancy between wanting peace and it not happening?

2. Are there some people who really do not want peace? Discuss fully both with examples from the book and other situations.

3. If the world were totally peaceful, would it be as interesting? Why or why not? Discuss fully both with examples from the book and other situations.

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