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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 does Jacob Hausner order Miriam Bernstein to do before the final battle?

2. What does Moshe Kaplan's sacrifice accomplish?

3. Why does Ahmed Rish need to keep the defenders alive?

4. How long does the second attack last?

5. How does the high command in Jerusalem learn of the location of the downed Concorde 02?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nathan Burg veto the idea of attempting an escape at night?

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

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

4. Once radio contact is established, why doesn't Teddy Laskov ask David Becker if Miriam Bernstein is still alive?

5. To what do the prophet Jeremiah - and the author, Nelson DeMille - credit the successful freeing of the Babylonian captives?

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

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

8. What does Naomi Haber do that leads to the death of Nathan Brin?

9. Why does Ahmed Rish have to wash his face and hands after his interrogation of Deborah Gideon?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Pazuzu is a powerful symbol in this story, representing different things to different people. In your essay, analyze its significance to the Arab attackers, to Benjamin Dobkin, and to Rabbi Levin. Whose understanding of the Pazuzu turns out to be more accurate?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

What do you make of the fact that even hardened warriors like Jacob Hausner can quote from the Talmud by heart or that even a villain like Ahmed Rish believes in the ancient Babylonian god of wind and death? In your essay, discuss the effect of belonging to an ancient civilization on the modern characters in this story.

(see the answer keys)

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