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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. ___________ develops a sense of satire around the stories of the Bible, while ___________ wants to play true to the stories.

2. The two idiot tells Biff to become a ____________ and to stop thinking too much about what's happening.

3. __________ becomes panicky during the slaughter of the lambs in the temple for Passover.

4. What does Jakan's father do for a living, according to his own admission?

5. Who is Joshua's true father, even though another man steps in to take on the role?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Joshua know how to do as a young child growing up in Nazareth?

2. Who is being accused of knifing the Roman legionnaire, even though he was not the guilty person?

3. What do the Pharisees want in return for the release of Joseph and the other accused people in the death of the Roman?

4. What addiction does Raziel seem to have that Biff wants to use against him in order to read the Bible?

5. What did Biff and Joshua like to do though other children in the town liked to play the usual games?

6. Why is the city of Sepphoris now restricted in terms of who can come in and out of the gates?

7. What is the honest mistake that Biff makes when he is tipping the room service?

8. What is Joshua's reaction to the statue of Venus they find at the gate of Sepphoris?

9. What does Bart, the town idiot, advise that Biff do when he sees Biff crying by the well?

10. What is the task that is assigned to Raziel by Heaven at the start of this book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joshua has to be tested by the Devil in order to be ready to be the true Messiah, and he passes the test.

Part 1: Why does Joshua have to be tested by the Devil in order to be ready to teach others?

Part 2: What kind of tests do you think Joshua might have had to face when he was with the Devil?

Part 3: Why doesn't Joshua share his experiences with the Devil with Biff when he emerges from the desert?

Essay Topic 2

The Romans have an interested outlook on religion in this story, allowing for the monotheism of Judaism as long as the Jews pay taxes.

Part 1: Why do you think the Romans thought taxes were more important to have than one single religious movements in the lands?

Part 2: How might conflicting religious thought within a country cause the people who live in that country to act?

Part 3: Do you think it's better to have people do what they want or for the government to dictate what the people should think? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of relationships is one the pervades the entire book, giving the reader a chance to see different relationships at work - and how these relationships affect other events in the book.

Part 1: What is the importance of the relationship between Biff and Joshua?

Part 2: What is the importance of the relationship between Joshua and Maggie? Between Biff and Maggie?

Part 3: Why do you think the relationship between Joshua and a best friend is introduced to the stories of the Bible in this book? What does this relationship provide for the role of Joshua? For the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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