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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. How does Benjamin Dobkin kill Sayid Talib?

2. What interrupts Benjamin Dobkin's conversation with Jerusalem?

3. What does Hausner believe the Jews should learn from the fate of Jews in Europe?

4. Why does Teddy Laskov show the colors to the passengers on the C-130s?

5. What does Miriam Bernstein think her mother could have written?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Prime Minister decide to ask the Americans to do the air reconnaissance mission over Iraq?

2. How have the attackers improved their tactics for the second attack?

3. What does Major Bartok find surprising about Nathan Burg's report of the incident?

4. What advantages does the Sherji, the hot desert wind, give to the attackers?

5. Why does Benjamin Dobkin have a sense of deja vu when he enters by the Ishtar Gate?

6. Why does Benjamin Dobkin initially direct is call to Athens, and then change his mind?

7. Why does Jacob Hausner think it is better for Miriam Bernstein to cry and howl when she is suffering pain and grief?

8. Who suffered disproportionately during the captivity, and why?

9. How and when was Jeremiah's prophecy fulfilled that said, "The sea shall come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof"?

10. How does the guard recognize that Benjamin Dobkin is not an Ashbal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An objective story is one in which the author does not appear to favor one character over others, but presents both sides of any issue impartially. Is DeMille an objective reporter of the disputes between Israelis and Arabs? Why or why not? Tell how you arrived at your conclusion.

Essay Topic 2

What irony do you see in that fact that Arabic and Hebrew are so closely related linguistically? "Salaam," the Arabic word for peace, and "Shalom," the Hebrew word for peace, are examples. In your essay, discuss the following question: What more is required to produce peace than linguistic similarity?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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