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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 whom had the hill above the airport belonged before the Six-Day War?

2. Why does Nuri Salameh tell his wife dinner will be late?

3. What does Jacob Hausner learn from the explosion of Concorde 01?

4. Who is in charge while the plane is in flight?

5. Who will man the operation against the Lod airport?

Short Essay Questions

1. What other military group had Teddy Laskov belonged to before he fought for Israel, and why had he left it?

2. How do the Israelis know that there had to be a spy working inside Israel to effect the capture of the Concorde?

3. What does Abdel Majid Jabari's position in the Knesset tell us about the Jewish leadership?

4. Why does Jacob Hausner say that he will help find medications that can kill a person if taken in overdose for Benjamin Dobkin?

5. How does Nathan Brin deduce the power source for the radio-controlled bomb?

6. What does the kheffiyah worn by Abdel Majid Jabari symbolize and why does it put him in danger?

7. What compels Nuri Salameh to plant the bomb aboard the aircraft, although he believes it is "a great sin"?

8. Why does Jacob Hausner get little respect from Benjamin Dobkin?

9. How many civilizations overran Iraq in ancient history, and which did the worst destruction?

10. Why does Abdel Majid Jabari tell Ibrahim Ali Arif that he is a very self-centered man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Certain characters in this story have elected to make a separate peace. Miriam Bernstein is initially committed to the idea of peace at any price. Abdel Majid Jabari and Ibrahim Arif have decided to become part of Israel, renouncing their Palestinian roots but still wearing the identifying kheffiyah. Dr. Al-Thanni continues working on his museum inventory in the midst of open warfare. In your essay, comment on the success of these efforts. Is it possible to live amid a conflict and not take sides? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The setting is critical to this story. In your essay, outline the cultural and political setting in which the characters find themselves. Consider the contrast between the tourists who will come later in the year to visit the site of the ancient Babylonian captivity and the characters who are themselves actually captive there.

Essay Topic 3

The kheffiyah (keffiyah) plays an important role in this story, as it both identifies and disguises characters. Write an essay explaining how an article of clothing can carry such weight of identity. Use scenes from the story in which characters either identify or disguise themselves to make your point.

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